Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Sickness Benefit – 5 March 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Sickness Benefit on 5th March 1986.

Mr. Alfred Morris Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people received reduced rate sickness benefit in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many of these subsequently obtained invalidity benefit;

(2) what would be the annual cost of paying sickness benefit to anyone who had paid or been credited with contributions on earnings of 25 times the lower earnings limit in the relevant tax year;

(3) what is his estimate of the number of people each year who will fail to qualify for invalidity benefit as a result of the proposal in the Social Security Bill to abolish reduced rate sickness benefit.

Mr. Major I shall let the right hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.