§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of Incapacity Benefit there are; and how many there were in each of the last 10 years. [130025]
§ Maria EagleThe information is in the table.
Number of recipients of Incapacity Benefit and its predecessors 2 April 1994 1,809,000 12 April 1995 1,894,000 29 February 1996 1,813,000 28 February 1997 1,749,000 28 February 1998 1,671,000 28 February 1999 1,557,000 29 February 2000 1,504,000 28 February 2001 1,515,000 28 February 2002 1,497,000 28 February 2003 1,506,000 Notes:
1. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness and Invalidity Benefits from 13 April 1995.
3. Figures for 1994 and 1995 are taken from a 1 per cent. sample of claims to benefit.
4. From February 1996 onwards 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. Figures include a small number of people resident overseas.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 1 per cent. and 5 per cent. samples.