HC Deb 14 January 1997 vol 288 cc216-7W
Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the cost to his Department's budget of awarding the mobility component of the disability living allowance to those aged over 65 years; [9600]

(2) how many people he estimates would be able to claim the mobility component of the disability living allowance if it were awarded to those over 65 years. [9597]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

It is estimated that an extra 2.3 million people would receive the mobility component of disability living allowance if it were to be awarded to disabled people over the age of 65, at an estimated additional cost of £3.9 billion for 1996–97.Notes:

  1. 1. Estimates are for the full year 1996–97 and are in 1996–97 prices.
  2. 2. Figures are based on disability living allowance (DLA) caseload statistics and the disability survey 1985 and are rounded to the nearest 100,000 people and £0.1 billion.
  3. 3. All figures are subject to error.
  4. 4. Estimates do not take into account changes to the payment of the DLA mobility component to people in hospital which took effect in July 1996, or the effect on other social security benefits.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants there are in the current year and there were in each of the previous four years for(a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance. [9598]

Mr. Mitchell

The information is in the table:

Recipients for disability living allowance and attendance allowance
(Thousands)
Year Disability living allowance1,2 Attendance Allowance
1992 31,019 4,51,059
1993 1,248 4,5890
1994 1,400 4,5962
1995 1,589 4,51,046
1996 1,768 1,21,194
Source:
Analytical Services Division.
Notes:
1 Based on 5 per cent. data.
2 Figures relate to 31 August.
3 Disability living allowance was introduced in April 1992 for people under age 65. The 1992 figure includes beneficiaries who transferred to disability living allowance in April 1992 from mobility allowance and attendance allowance.
4 Figures based on a 100 per cent. count of statistical records adjusted to reflect the extent to which they overstate the number of live cases.
5 Figures as at 31 March 1996.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total cost to his Department in awarding the mobility component of the disability living allowance for(a) last year and (b) each of the previous years since its introduction. [9596]

Mr. Mitchell

The information is set out in the table:

£ million
Year 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96
Higher rate mobility component 1,167 1,547 1,679 1,977
Lower rate mobility component 52 108 137 183
Total mobility component 1,219 1,655 1,816 2,160

Source:

The 1995–96 figure is based on disability living allowance (DLA) expenditure in the appropriation accounts published this month. The breakdown for the earlier three years conforms with total DLA expenditure shown in the departmental report 1996.

Note:

All figures are estimated.