(2) how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants had been in receipt of the benefit for five years or more in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available.
[holding answer 23 February 2009]: The information is in the following tables.
Government Office Region Caseload of recipients over five years Proportion of total caseload (percentage) Claimants of over five years per 100,000 of working age population North East 93,020 60.5 4,193 North West 228,630 58.4 3,589 Yorkshire and The Humber 130,060 56.7 2,824 East Midlands 98,400 55.4 2,665 West Midlands 130,670 55.4 2,774 East 94,410 53.1 1,912 London 161,590 53.1 1,538 South East 122,910 51.8 1,657 South West 102,730 53.6 2,273 Wales 112,970 59.7 4,644 Scotland 168,640 58.0 3,623 Great Britain 1,444,030 56.0 2,643 Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Durations refer to incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance awards. 3. Working age population figures are for GB only, taken from the Office for National Statistics mid year population estimate for 2007. 4. Data available from www.nomis.co.uk. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate, 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study
November 2007 February 2008 May 2008 August 2008 Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Great Britain 1,457,160 55.4 1,452,590 55.7 1,448,050 56.0 1,444,030 56.0 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Durations refer to incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance awards. 3. Data available from www.nomis.co.uk Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate, 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.