HL Deb 19 November 2003 vol 654 cc309-10WA
Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the cost of supporting unemployed disabled people. [HL5526]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

It is not possible to give a figure on the total cost of supporting unemployed disabled people as many of the costs are not separately identifiable.

However, in 2002–03 we spent £100 million on benefits for disabled people who were seeking work.

Source:

1. Expenditure has been estimated by use of benefits administrative data held by DWP. For Jobseekers Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, this is a 5 per cent sample, for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit this is a 1 per cent sample.

Notes:

1. Unemployment is defined as receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, and disabled as receipt of the disability premium within JSA.

2. Expenditure refers to program spend only; administrative expenditure isn't included. The Expenditure for 2002-03 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn for the year and not the amounts voted by Parliament.

3. Amount shown is in cash terms, and rounded to the nearest £5 million.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of those registered as disabled people who are unemployed suffer from a mental illness. [HL5527]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

The Labour Force Survey (Summer 2003) indicates that there are 580,000 people of working age (16 to State Pension Age), who report that they are DDA disabled and have a mental health condition as their main health problem, in Great Britain.

Of these, 20 per cent (representing about 110,000 people) were in work and 470,000 are not employed.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have conducted any research into the number of unemployed disabled people who could benefit from a training course. [HL5528]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

No research has been conducted specifically into the number of unemployed disabled people who could benefit from a training course.

We have a wide range of programmes, including Work Based Learning for Adults, which offer support in helping disabled people secure work where they are ready and able to do so. Jobcentre Plus advisory services and the specialist programmes are available irrespective of benefit (if any) claimed.