To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) men and (b) women have applied for disabled living allowance or the equivalent benefit, in each of the last three years; and what percentage of men and women have been granted it (i) for life and (ii) for specified periods of time.

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard the chief executive of the Benefits Agency that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.