§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the(a) number of recipients of, (b) total expenditure on and (c) upper and lower payments made by his Department from the Independent Living Fund for each of the last three years. [141144]
§ Mr. BayleyThe Independent Living Funds (ILFs) operate on a UK basis and the number of recipients of payments from the ILFs for the last three years was as follows:
- 31 March 1998: 15,575
- 31 March 1999: 15,189
- 31 March 2000: 15,262.
The total UK expenditure for the last three years was:
866W
- Year ending 1997–98: £113,655,548
- Year ending 1998–99: £117,745,387
- Year ending 1999–2000: £126,154,830.
The maximum sums payable by the Funds remained unchanged since their inception in 1993 until 27 January 2000. From 1993 the maximum payment paid by the Independent Living (Extension Fund) was £560 per week and for the Independent Living (1993) Fund £300 per week. In January these amounts were increased to £625 for the Extension Fund and £375 per week for the 1993 Fund. The lowest payment made in an individual case in each of the last three years was £1 per week.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to his Department of removing the means test from the Independent Living Fund. [141145]
§ Mr. BayleyUp to date information is not available. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the information.