§ Matthew GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value is of reductions to(a) pensions and (b) other benefits made after a patient has been in hospital for over six weeks in each of the last five years; and how many patients have been affected by reductions to (i) pensions and (ii) benefits in each of the past five years. [33002]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
1319W
£ million Incapacity benefit Retirement pension Severe disablement allowance Reduction in benefit with six to 52 weeks hospital downrating in place 1996–97 *5 22 2 1997–98 *5 22 3 1998–99 *5 24 3 1999–2000 *6 26 3 2000–01 *5 28 4 Reduction in benefit with over 52 weeks hospital downrating in place 1996–97 *7 37 25 1997–98 *8 33 24 1998–99 *8 32 23 1999–2000 *8 30 23 2000–01 *9 29 21 Notes:
- 1. The information has been obtained from a number of administrative sources and a number of assumptions have been made, ie numbers marked * are taken from a small number of sample cases and are subject to a relatively high sampling error and should be used only as an indication of the current situation and it has been assumed that figures in a given quarter remain constant throughout the year.
- 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest million.
- 3. It is not possible to provide accurate total reductions for income support, housing benefit, or council tax benefit.
- 4. The figures are given in cash terms.