HC Deb 15 July 1999 vol 335 c302W
Mr. Chisholm

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the expenditure implications of the changes in the contributions conditions of Incapacity Benefit proposed in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill. [90767]

Mr. Bayley

The proposed reform of the Incapacity Benefit contribution conditions, which will ensure that the benefit goes primarily to people who have recently been in work and paying national insurance contributions, is estimated to reduce benefit expenditure by £25 million in the first year, £60 million in the third year and £150 million after 10 years.

Mr. Chisholm

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the proportion of current recipients of Incapacity Benefit who would not have met the contributions conditions proposed in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill. [90768]

Mr. Bayley

Since existing Incapacity Benefit recipients will not be affected by the proposed new contribution conditions, no estimate has been made of the proportion of all current recipients who would have failed to meet those conditions. However, available data suggest that around 10 per cent. of recent awards of Incapacity Benefit would not have been made under the proposed contribution conditions.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which Benefits Agency office would handle(a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility of the claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal relating to the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of overpaid benefit for a person living in Elgin and claiming Incapacity Benefit. [90865]

Mr. Bayley

The administration of Incapacity Benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to he hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 14 July 1999: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking which Benefits Agency (BA) office would handle (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility of the claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal relating to the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for a person living in Elgin and claiming incapacity benefit (IB). The provision of advice, information, assessment and review of claims and the payment of benefit for persons claiming IB and living in Elgin is handled by the Benefits Office, Trinity Road, Elgin. Appeals relating to IB are dealt with at Glasgow City Benefits Office, Pitt Street, Glasgow, whilst overpayment recovery work is handled by the Benefits Office, Castle St, Stornoway. I hope this is helpful.