§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of claimants of(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit have earnings above the relevant disregard, giving figures separately for (i) couples, (ii) single people and (iii) lone parents. [13050]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is set out in the table:
Doctors who undertake medical examinations in connection with IB are self employed contractors and are paid fees for the examinations they conduct. Additional expenses are also paid where appropriate.
For examinations conducted on Benefits Agency (BA) premises, doctors are paid a fee of £30.70 per hour. If the examination is conducted in a client's home, the fees are £37.90 for up to and including 1.5 hours, £56.90 for over 1.5 and up to 2.5 hours, and £88.40 for over 2.5 hours. Travelling and subsistence costs are also paid, based on prescribed amounts.
The total cost for the year ending March 1996 was £12,187,989, this figure is provisional and subject to change.
I hope this reply is helpful.