§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies he has conducted into the timescale and evidence for material changes in capacity for working. [3088]
§ Malcolm Wicks[holding answer 9 July 2001]: Improvements in a person's work capability will vary from case to case according to their condition. This is not predictable and will also depend on the opportunities and support available. Research shows that around a third of disabled people not in work want to work. That is why we are committed to providing the right support for those who may be able to return to employment.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the details of his planned changes to Incapacity Benefit before laying the regulations before the House. [4321]
§ Malcolm WicksI refer the hon. Member to the 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.
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what is the average amount of time people currently claiming Incapacity Benefit have been in receipt of that benefit; [3226]
Number of Incapacity Benefit recipients as at 28 February 2001 Thousand Diagnoses group Number All diagnoses 1,515.2 Claimants without any diagnosis code on the system 4.2 Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99) 11.2 Neoplasms (Coo-D48) 23.7 Diseases of the blood and blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism (D50-D89) 2.3 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90) 25.0 Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99) 392.0 Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99) 83.7 Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59) 10.3 Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95) 6.8 Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) 155.4 Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99) 49.8 Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K93) 26.1 Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous system (L00-L99) 10.6 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99) 400.8 Diseases of the genitourinary system (Noo-N99) 12.2 Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O99) 1.3 Certain conditions originating in the Perinatal period (P00-P96) — Congenital malformations, deformations and chromasomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) 1.4 Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99) 184.5 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-U22) 97.1 Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99) 16.8 Notes:
1. All diagnoses are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD10), published by the World Health Organisation. The codes in brackets following each heading show the ICD10 codes in each group.
2. The figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases. They are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred. Those marked with "—" denote nil or negligible.
3. If a person has more than one medical condition only the primary diagnosis is recorded.
4. Figures exclude cases where a claimant receives National Insurance credits only.
176W(2) what proportion of people receiving Incapacity Benefit for an indefinite period have had changed circumstances since the benefit was originally granted. [3225]
§ Malcolm WicksThe average duration of claims to Incapacity Benefit current on 31 March 2000, the latest date for which the information is available, was 2,278 days. This figure is based on a 1 per cent. sample of claims and excludes cases where the person claiming was receiving National Insurance credits only.
Information on the proportion of people receiving Incapacity Benefit who have had a change of circumstances is not available.
§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit have been subjected to a new capability for work test as a result of(a) section 61 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 and (b) the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1999. [3183]
§ Malcolm Wicks[holding answer 10 July 2001]Between the introduction of the Personal Capability Assessment in April 2000 and the end of May 2001 (the latest date for which figures are available), 825,017 assessments were carried out.
§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide a breakdown of recipients of Incapacity Benefit by type of incapacity; and if he will make a statement. [3658]
§ Malcolm Wicks[holding answer 16 July 2001]: The information is in the table.
177W8W
§ David WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for Incapacity Benefit were refused in(a) 2000 and (b) this year to date. [4367]
§ Malcolm Wicks[holding answer 16 July 2001]: The information is in the table.
Total Incapacity Benefit claims disallowed on application Number 1 January to 31 December 2000 379,806 1 January to 30 June 2001 183,233 Note:
1. Figures are taken from a 100 per cent. count of the computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what has been the cost of Incapacity Benefit in each year since 1995(a) in cash terms and (b) at current prices. [3065]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is available in statistical tables showing breakdowns of historical and forecast benefit expenditure which are in the Library. It is also available on the Department's internet site.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what evidence he has collated on the numbers of claimants of Incapacity Benefit who are capable of(a) full-time work on a sustained basis and (b) other kinds of work; [3177]
(2) what studies he has carried out into the skills, qualifications and work experience of present claimants of Incapacity Benefit; and what the result was. [3097]
§ Malcolm WicksIncapacity Benefit is a benefit for people who are not working because of sickness and disability, but this does not mean that they will never be capable of work. We know about one third of Incapacity Benefit recipients want to work. We believe it right to help them to achieve these ambitions.
A national survey has been carried out which gathered information on the skills and qualifications of people who were in receipt of incapacity-related benefits for 28 weeks or more, including Incapacity Benefit. We plan to publish detailed findings from the survey later this year. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people suffering from diabetes are in receipt of Incapacity Benefit. [3824]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information requested is in the table.
178W
Recipients of Incapacity Benefit (IB) whose diagnosis is diabetes as at 28 February 2001 Thousand Diagnosis IB recipients Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus 10.4 Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus 10.3 Unspecified Diabetes Mellitus 20.3 Total 20.9 1Figures based on a very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only Notes:
1. Figures given do not include Credits Only cases
2. Owing to the rounding method used the individual figures do not sum to the total
3. The table shows the numbers of Incapacity Benefit recipients whose first or only diagnosis is shown to be diabetes. They exclude numbers claiming Incapacity Benefit where another diagnosis is the primary cause of incapacity
4. The figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases
5. They are expressed in thousands, rounded to the nearest hundred
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the most recent figures for the review periods set for Incapacity Benefit, indicating how many recipients fall into each category(a) less than three months, (b) three to nine months, (c) nine to 18 months, (d) 18 months to 36 months, (e) three to five years, (f) more than five years and (g) indefinite. [4322]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information requested is not available.