HC Deb 19 January 1996 vol 269 c826W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently claiming incapacity benefit are(a) single, (b) in a couple, (c) in a couple with children and (d) single with children. [10138]

Mr. Heald

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Number of beneficiaries of incapacity benefit on 31 May 1995
Number
All beneficiaries 1,846,000
No dependency increases 1,373,000
Adult dependency increase only 345,000
Child dependency increase only 54,000
Both adult and child dependency increase 72,000

Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the incapacity benefit computer system, rounded to the nearest thousand, and excludes a small number of cases paid clerically. Totals may not sum due to rounding.