The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
Mr. D. E. Thomas
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are (a) the numbers of people claiming sickness benefit and (b) this number expressed as a percentage of the total number of those claiming sickness benefit in 1948, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and all subsequent years.
Mr. Meacher
Information is not available in the form requested, but the following table sets out similar information in relation to claims for sickness benefit:—
| Sickness/Invalidity*Benefit—New Claims in Year | ||
| Year | Number (Thousands) | 1974 as a percentage of earlier years |
| 1948/49* | 7,028 | 140 |
| 1950 | 7,300 | 135 |
| 1955 | 7,919 | 125 |
| 1960† | 8,319 | 119 |
| 1965 | 9,565 | 103 |
| 1970 | 10,632 | 93 |
| 1971 | 8,801 | 112 |
| 1972† | 9,764 | 101 |
| 1973 | 10,022 | 98 |
| 1974 | 9,863 | — |
Source: 100 per cent count
* Invalidity benefit was introduced from 23rd September 1971.
† 5th July 1948 to 5th July 1949
‡53 weeks.