To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated (a) gross cost and (b) net cost to the Exchequer of increasing the present severe disablement allowance to the full rate of invalidity benefit; and how many people will be affected by this.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice) on 12 June at column 164. The current number of recipients of severe disablement allowance is 274,500.