To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants have been called in for medical assessment in each of the last five years; and how many have been reassessed as not qualifying for benefit. [103235]
The available information is in the tables.
| People claiming incapacity benefit (IB) called for medical assessment | |
| September 1998 to August 1999 | 768,653 |
| September 1999 to August 2000 | 616,071 |
| September 2000 to August 2001 | 639,923 |
| September 2001 to August 2002 | 783,294 |
Notes:
1. Figures prior to September 1998 are available only at disproportionate cost.
2. Figures are for the number of invitations in respect of IB medical assessments. As some people will be unable to attend their assessments when first invited, these figures include second and subsequent invitations.
Source:
Figures are 100 per cent. count from Medical Provision and Contracting Team figures.
Claims to IB disallowed following a medical assessment
| |
| 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 | 199,290 |
| 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 | 202,680 |
| 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 | 181,895 |
| 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 | 152,085 |
| 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 | 161,125 |
Note:
Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
Source:
Figures are 100 per cent. count from the incapacity benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of cases held clerically.