§ Lord Rowlandsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their latest estimate of the number in receipt of incapacity benefit (a) below the age of 25 in Wales; (b) below the age of 25 in the United Kingdom; (c) between 25 and 55 in Wales; and (d) 25WA between 25 and 55 in the United Kingdom; and how these figures compare in percentage terms with those in 1992 and 1997. [HL4561]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)The available information is in the table.
All Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance claimants by age and Government Office Region, at the quarter shown. Under 25 25 to 55 Great Britain (May 2004) 167,900 1,650,300 Comparison with May 1997 10.0 per cent 7.5 per cent Comparison with April 1992* 34.7 per cent 46.6 per cent Wales (May 2004) 11,400 119,900 Comparison with May 1997 -6.1 per cent -0.7 per cent Comparison with April 1992* 10 per cent 9.7 per cent Source:
DWP Information Centre, 1 per cent annual samples up to April 1995 and 5 per cent quarterly samples thereafter.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Figures are shown for Great Britain rather than the UK as Social Security for Northern Ireland is devolved to the Northern Ireland Office.
*Figures include Sickness and Invalidity Benefit and Non-Contributory Incapacity Pension, now Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance respectively.