HC Deb 24 February 1997 vol 291 cc87-8W
Mr. Alan Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the annual cost and (b) the numbers gaining if the earnings limits for (i) incapacity benefit, (ii) severe disablement allowance and (iii) invalid care allowance, were raised to the lower earning limit for 1997–98. [15870]

Mr. Burt

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

It is estimated that 5,000 invalid care allowance claimants would benefit each year if the ICA earnings limit were raised to the lower earnings limit at an annual cost of £5 million.

Notes:

1. Estimates are based on sample data which may be unrepresentative.

2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 5,000 (claimants) and £5 million (expenditure).

Source:

"Family Resources Survey 1994–95".