Written question asked by Malcolm Chisholm (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 July 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 July 1999. It was answered by Hugh Bayley (Labour) on Thursday, 15 July 1999 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the expenditure implications of the changes in the contributions conditions of incapacity benefit proposed in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Chisholm: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the expenditure implications of the changes in the contributions conditions of Incapacity Benefit proposed in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill. [90767] Mr. Bayley: The proposed reform of the Incapacity Benefit contribution conditions, which will ensure that the benefit goes primarily to people who have recently been in work and paying national insurance contributions, is estimated to reduce benefit expenditure by £25 million in the first year, £60 million in the third year and £150 million after 10 years.

Secondary information