HC Deb 21 November 1996 vol 285 cc689-91W
Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many invalid allowance claimants currently have allowable travel costs; [5095]

(2) how many current recipients of invalid care allowance will be affected by the changes in the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996, No. 2745) that costs of union and professional association membership will no longer by disregarded; [5096]

(3) how many current recipients of invalid care allowance presently have substitute care costs disregarded; and what is the total annual cost of this care. [5097]

Mr. Burt

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people will be affected by the loss of entitlement to invalid care allowance in the first weeks of claim as a result of the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996, No. 2745). [5098]

Mr. Burt

There are insufficient data on which to base reliable estimates. However, we anticipate that the number affected in this way will be small.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many invalid care allowance claimants there are and what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Amendment Regulations 1996 (SI 1996, No. 2744) and Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 on this figure. [5100]

Mr. Roger Evans

As at 18 November there were approximately 350,000 recipients of invalid care allowance. There are insufficient data on which to base reliable estimates of the effect of the introduction of the regulations. However, we anticipate that the numbers affected by the regulations referred to will be small.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken to ascertain how many people will benefit from the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Amendment Regulations 1996 (SI 1996, No. 2744) and Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996, No. 2745); how many people will no longer be able to claim; and if he will make a statement. [5101]

Mr. Evans

Data are not available to estimate accurately how many people will gain or lose from the introduction of the regulations and the costs of obtaining such information would be disproportionate. No one will be prevented from claiming as a result of the regulations.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the costs of implementing the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Amendment Regulations 1996 (SI 1996, No. 2744) and Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996, No. 2745); and what net savings he estimates will accrue from the introduction of these measures. [5102]

Mr. Evans

The cost of implementing the regulations is expected to be negligible. There are insufficient data on which to base reliable revenue estimates. However, we expect the revenue effects to be broadly cost neutral.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many current recipients of invalid care allowance have earnings; and what are the average earnings of current recipients of invalid care allowance before deductions and disregarded payment. [5103]

Mr. Burt

As at 18 November 1996, some 26,500 invalid care allowance recipients had earnings. Information about average amounts of earnings is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.