§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many people disabled from birth will benefit from the Welfare Reform Bill in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [111448]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
From April 2001, young people disabled before the age of 20 (or 25 if they have been in education) will be able to qualify for Incapacity Benefit without having to have made National Insurance contributions. Rates of Incapacity Benefit are higher than Severe Disablement Allowance (to which such young people would currently be entitled)—after a year on benefit, the rate is over £26 a week more. It is estimated that in Great Britain the change will bring approximately 6,500 young people into Incapacity Benefit each year. If the national pattern of receipt were replicated in Shrewsbury and Atcham, and in Shropshire, the numbers moving into Incapacity Benefit each year in those areas would be some 10 and 25 respectively.
Also from April 2001, the higher rate mobility care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be extended to severely disabled children aged three or four. It is estimated that approximately 7,000 children in Great Britain will become entitled in the first year and approximately 8,000 in each subsequent year. If the national pattern of receipt were replicated in Shrewsbury and Atcham and in Shropshire, the numbers of children qualifying in those areas in each year would be some 10 and 50 respectively.