§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide a breakdown of the recipients of Incapacity Benefit by each available age cohort; and if he will make a statement. [3660]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is available in the Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance Quarterly Summary Statistics February 2001 which are in the Library.
§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will provide a breakdown by(a) constituency and (b) region of the United Kingdom of the number of new claimants of Incapacity Benefit anticipated in each year until 2005–06; [3917]
(2) what projection he has made of (a) the number of future claimants who will lose entitlement to Incapacity Benefit as a result of the proposed changes and (b) the average loss of entitlement per claimant, broken down by (i) constituency and (ii) region, of (A) Scotland, (B) England, (C) Wales and (D) Northern Ireland; [4154]
(3) what assessment he has made of the annual saving as a result of the Government's proposed changes to Incapacity Benefit in each year up to 2005–06, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) each region of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [3920]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is not available in the format requested. The proposed changes to Incapacity Benefit are intended to help people move into work where possible, rather than reducing people's entitlement or making savings. In the past many people were moved onto Incapacity Benefit with limited help to make sure 63W that they got the right level of support. There was no help to get people into work, nor any support or rehabilitation. Yet, as research has shown, one million disabled people not in work say they would like to work. We have a duty to help them do so and our proposals will help to achieve this.
§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people currently receive Incapacity Benefit; how many have had no test of the status of their incapacity and their ability to work within the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [3659]
§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many new claimants of Incapacity Benefit will have their claims subject to the new rules proposed by the Government on entitlement to Incapacity Benefit in each year until 2005–06, broken down by(a) constituency and (b) region of (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland; [3918]
(2) what proportion of Incapacity Benefit claimants for each year until 2005–06 will receive their benefit under (a) existing eligibility criteria and (b) the Government's proposed changes to the entitlement rules. [3919]
§ Malcolm WicksI refer the hon. Members to the written answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions gave the hon. Members for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) and for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 11 July 2001,Official Report, columns 565–67W.
§ David WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of those in receipt of Incapacity Benefit are not subject to periodic medical tests because of their severe disability. [4364]
§ Malcolm WicksThe available information is in the table.
Number (Thousand) Percentage of all recipients All Incapacity Benefit (IB) recipients 1,515.2 100.0 Total exemptions from the personal capability assessment 366.7 24.2 Notes:
1. The data relate to recipients of IB at 28 February 2001.
2. The data do not include "National Insurance credits only" cases.