HC Deb 18 December 1997 vol 303 cc321-3W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated saving in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 from the introduction of incapacity benefit. [21576]

Mr. Denham

The estimated savings from the introduction of Incapacity Benefit are in the table.

Year Savings1 (£ million)
1997–98 1,350
1998–99 1,830
1999–2000 2,190
1 Cash terms.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the growth in expenditure on disability benefits since 1979 is attributable to recipients who are(a) above pension age, (b) within five years of pension age and (c) children. [21522]

Mr. Denham

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information that is available on caseloads for Attendance Allowance and Mobility Allowance in 1979 and Disability Living Allowance for 1997 is given in the tables below. These benefits provide help to disabled people with the extra costs incurred because of the effects of their disabilities. Expenditure on these benefits has increased in real terms by 926 per cent. from 1978–79 to 1996–97.

People in receipt of attendance allowance at 31 December 1979
000
Higher Lower All
Men
All ages 49 69 118
Under 16 11 16 27
60–64 4 5 9
65 and over 20 25 45
Women
All ages 74 94 168
Under 16 8 16 24
60–64 5 6 11
65 and over 49 59 108
All persons
All ages 123 163 286
Under 16 19 32 51
People in receipt of attendance allowance at 31 December 1979
000
Higher Lower All
60–64
65 and over

Source:

Estimated from a 100 per cent. count of statistical records, adjusted to reflect the extent to which they overstate the number of live cases.

Note:

1. Attendance allowance extended to children under two years of age in 1990.

People in receipt of mobility allowance at 31 December 1979
000
Men Women All
Mobility allowance 56 57 113
All ages 16
Under 15 9
60 and over
Vehicle scheme 24
All ages
Under 15
60 and over

Source:

100 per cent. data.

People in receipt of attendance allowance at 31 August 1997 age 65 and over
000
Higher Lower All
Men 158 179 337
Women 347 515 862
All persons 505 694 1,199

Source:

5 per cent. data.

People in receipt of disability living allowance at 31 August 1997
000
Care component Mobility component
Higher Middle Lower Higher Lower All awards
Men
All ages 180 282 190 651 206 980
Under 16 43 59 10 27 39 118
55–59 17 25 28 91 13 112
60–64 21 31 35 124 13 146
65 and over 26 38 26 176 10 194
Women
All ages 183 263 216 657 173 944
Under 16 27 38 7 18 21 75
55–59 21 27 35 95 15 121
60–64 24 32 36 116 13 139
65 and over 30 43 31 176 11 197
All persons
All ages 363 545 407 1,307 379 1,924
Under 16 71 98 17 45 59 192
55–59 38 52 63 185 28 233
60–64 45 62 71 239 26 285
65 and over 56 81 57 353 21 391

Source:

5 per cent. data.

Note:

1. Disability living allowance introduced in 1992 which replaced and extended help available through mobility allowance and attendance allowance for those under 65.