HC Deb 16 October 1996 vol 282 cc1026-8W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have undergone the all-work test for incapacity benefit; what were the results of the tests; and how many are now employed.[40843]

Mr. Lilley

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

April 1995 to August 1996
Number of assessments under the all work test 1,059,000
Allowed benefit following reference to BA Medical Services on the all work test 892,000
Disallowed benefit following reference to BA Medical Services on the all work test 167,000

Source:

Monthly scan of the incapacity benefit computer system.

Note:

All information is provisional and could be subject to change.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) total number of recipients and (b) average benefit paid in respect of (i) invalidity benefit for 1994–95 and (ii) incapacity benefit for 1995–96. [40844]

Mr. Lilley

The available information is in the table.

Number of recipients Average weekly amount in payment (£)
Invalidity Benefit at 12 April 1995 1,767,000 84.77
Incapacity Benefit 1 at 31 May 1996 1,677,000 285.54

Source:

Invalidity Benefit figures taken from a 1 per cent. sample of cases. Incapacity Benefit figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample of cases from the Incapacity Benefit computer system. These figures exclude a small number of cases not on the system.

Notes:

1 Excludes recipients of the short term (lower) rate, the equivalent of Sickness Benefit prior to 13 April 1995.

2 Includes those cases where benefit is in payment at the pre-April 1995 Invalidity Benefit rate (uprated) under the transitional protection rules.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average administration cost of the incapacity benefit per applicant since its inception [40846]

Mr. Lilley

The information requested is not yet available.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the success rate for appeals relating to the all-work test in the December 1995 and March 1996 quarters(a) where the appellant was present or represented at the tribunal hearing and (b) where the appellant was neither present nor represented. [40785]

Mr. Burt

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

Percentage of appeals revised in favour of appellant following tribunal hearing
Appellant present or represented 57
Appellant neither present nor represented 7

Note:

Figures are for December 1995.

Source:

100 per cent. count of all appeals and referrals which have been registered with the Independent Tribunal Service.