Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 12 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 March 2012. It was answered by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 March 2012 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse was of the provision of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) incapacity benefit to people aged (i) 18 to 21 and (ii) 22 to 24 years in England in the last year for which figures are available.

Answer

The figures are in the table.

Expenditure on employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit and associated income support, 2010-11
£ million (nominal)
	Employment and support allowance	Incapacity benefit	Income support
Aged 18 to 21	154	64	32
Aged 22 to 24	89	108	97
Notes:
1. Income support expenditure relates to those also in receipt of incapacity benefit, whether payments or credits.
2. DWP benefit expenditure tables can be accessed at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp
Source:
DWP statistical and accounting data.

Secondary information