§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost in Scotland and the UK(a) to allow carers over the age of 65 years to claim Invalid Care Allowance and (b) to introduce a (i) five per cent. and (ii) 10 per cent. increase for Invalid Care Allowance after two years of caring in (A) Scotland and (B) the UK [128175]
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§ Mr. BayleyInformation is not available in the format The requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.
Estimate cost of extending new claims entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) for those aged 65 or over, 2001–02 £million Estimate Cost Scotland 5 Greater Britain 30 Notes
1. Costs rounded to nearest five million, cash prices.
2. Estimates are based on Family Resources Survey 1997–98 and 1998–99, and caseload forecasts.
3. As estimates based on survey data the above will be subject to sampling error. The limitations of modelling entitlement from available survey data on the number of hours that individuals spend providing care mean that the above estimates should be treated with caution—there is evidence of under-reporting of hours spent providing care.
4. It is assumed that all normal ICA entitlement rules remain in place after any abolition of the upper age limit for new claims. Costs include the effects on Income Support (IS) carer premium and consequent effects on Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit.
5. Costing does not include any behavioural effects that might arise as consequence of change or IS floaters on.
6. Proportion of extra expenditure in Scotland assumed to be in line with proportion of those with disability benefits potentially qualifying for ICA in Scotland.
7. Costs are provided for GB and Scotland only. Information on benefits in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Estimate cost of 5 per cent., 10 per cent. Increase in ICA after two years spent providing care, 2001–02 £ million 5 per cent. Increase to ICA 10 per cent. Increase to ICA Scotland 2 4 GB 20 40 Notes:
1. Costs rounded to nearest five million for GB, one million for Scotland.
2. Costs include offsetting IRB effects.
3. Two years spent providing care interpreted as two years on ICA, percentage increase taken as applying to dependant increases as well as basic ICA.
4. Proportion of extra expenditure in Scotland assumed to be in line with proportion of those with disability benefits potentially qualifying for ICA in Scotland.
5. Costs are provided for GB and Scotland only. Information on benefits in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Source:
ICAU July 100 per cent. sample count, ICA forecasts
§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost for(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom of (i) abolishing the 21 hour study rule for Invalid Care Allowance and (ii) extending invalid care allowance for eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for. [128128]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
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The estimated cost for Great Britain and Scotland of extending Invalid Care Allowance for eight Weeks after the death of the person being cared for, 2001–02 £million Estimate Cost Greater Britain 2 Scotland 0.2 Notes:
1. Costs for GB rounded to the nearest million pounds. Costs for Scotland rounded to the nearest £100K.
2. The costs incorporate knock-on effects to Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
3. Information on benefits in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much he estimates it would cost in(a) Scotland and (b) the UK to (i) increase Invalid Care Allowance to the level of the basic state pension, (ii) raise the earnings limit for ICA to the equivalent of the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions and (iii) introduce a taper on ICA set at 50 per cent. of earnings over the (1) existing earnings limit and (2) earnings limit in (ii) above. [128131]
§ Mr. BayleyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
The estimated cost when increasing the rate of Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) to the standard retirement pension £ million Costs 2001–02 GB 355 Scotland 40 Notes:
1. Costs are rounded to the nearest five million and provided in cash prices
2. Costs are based on the Department's Analytical Services Division's forecast of ICA recipients
3. The cost for Scotland is apportioned using 1998–99 admin data on qualifying benefits obtained from the Scottish Information Centres
4. Costs are provided for GB and Scotland only. Information on benefits in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
5. Income related benefit offset effects are incorporated into the above costs
6. Any behavioural effects that may result due to a change in the policy are not taken into account
7. The estimated cost is calculated by increasing the level of ICA to the level of the Basic State Retirement Pension, currently set at £67.50.