§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people failed to qualify for(a) incapacity benefit and (b) unemployment benefit in (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96 because they failed the contribution conditions for benefit; and in each case, how many of these failed (1) the first contribution condition and (2) the second contribution condition. [2781]
§ Mr. BurtThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table:
Number Claimants who failed the contribution conditions and were refused incapacity benefit from April 1995 to March 1996 1389,000 Unemployed claimants as at 11 May 1995 not in receipt of unemployment benefit who failed the contribution conditions 21,127,000 Unemployed claimants as at 9 May 1996 not in receipts of unemployment benefit who failed the contribution conditions 21,081,000 Source:
1Monthly scan of incapacity benefit computer.
2Five per cent. sample of unemployed claimants.
§ Mr. HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the impact of the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 and the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Amendment Regulations 1996; how many people he estimates will(a) gain and (b) suffer financial loss as a result of these regulations; and what are the revenue projections relating to these measures. [2785]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThere are insufficient data on which to base reliable estimates. However, we anticipate that the numbers of gainers and losers will be small. The revenue implications of the regulations are expected to be broadly cost neutral.