HC Deb 19 January 1996 vol 269 cc826-7W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently claiming severe disablement allowance are(a) single, (b) in a couple, (c) in a couple with children and (d) single with children. [10143]

Mr. Heald

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

Number of beneficiaries of severe disablement allowance on 31 May 1995
Number
All beneficiaries 324,000
No dependency increases 317,000
Adult dependency increase only 2,000
Child dependency increase only 4,000
Both adult and child dependency increase 2,000

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.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the numbers of appeals currently lodged against a decision that the claimant is capable of work; what is the average waiting time for appeals to be heard; and in how many appeals the claimant has been represented. [10132]

Mr. Heald

The information requested is not currently available. However, provisional figures show that there are currently 17,649 appeals outstanding against the incapacity benefit all-work test.