HC Deb 04 December 1996 vol 286 cc712-3W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 90, what have been the annual savings to his Department in constant prices of ending the link between average earnings and (a) invalidity allowance, (b) attendance allowance, (c) non-contributory invalidity pensions and its successor benefit and (d) invalid care allowance. [7049]

Mr. Burt

The information requested is in the table.

Net savings derived from uprating in line with growth in prices only from 1980 as compared to uprating in line with the higher of the growth in prices or average earnings
Year Invalidity allowance (IVA) Attendance allowance (AA) NCIP/severe disablement allowance (SDA) Invalid care allowance (ICA)
1980–81 5 20 1 1
1981–82 10 25 5 1
1982–83 5 55 5 1
1983–84 5 90 5 1
1984–85 15 110 10 1
1985–86 15 150 10 1
1986–87 20 220 20 15
1987–88 30 305 25 30
1988–89 35 360 30 30
1989–90 45 420 40 30
1990–91 50 465 50 35

Net savings derived from uprating in line with growth in prices only from 1980 as compared to uprating in line with the higher of the growth in prices or average earnings
Year Invalidity allowance (IVA) Attendance allowance (AA) NCIP/severe disablement allowance (SDA) Invalid care allowance (ICA)
1991–92 55 615 60 50
1992–93 65 840 75 60
1993–94 75 1,010 85 75
1994–95 80 1,185 95 95

1. Estimates are rounded to nearest £5 million.

2. Estimates converted to 1996–97 prices using GDP deflator.

3. Estimates for IVA exclude savings from individuals not currently entitled to IVA since it is entirely offset against additional pension, but who might become entitled if the earnings uprating link was restored.

4. Estimates take account of offsetting costs in the income related benefits.

5. It is assumed that attendance allowance is attendance allowance and DLA (care) highest and middle rate. The lowest rate of disability living allowance (care) has been excluded from the calculation as it was introduced in 1992 and was, therefore, never linked.

1Denotes negligible savings.