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Childhood Poverty
27. Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to tackle the problem of children growing up in poverty. [79755]
Angela Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Mr. Fitzpatrick) earlier today, Official Report, column 567.
Child Care Costs
32. Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to assist parents seeking work with the costs of child care. [79760]
Angela Eagle:
Parents need access to affordable, good quality child care to help balance work and family life successfully. We have already increased the help available
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for child care costs in the in-work benefits and the Government have introduced the Tax Credits Bill, which provides for a much more generous child care tax credit.
33. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he has taken to monitor the mechanism by which the relative level of the state pension and associated benefits are calculated for (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples. [79761]
Mr. Timms:
The rate of Category B retirement pension (the "married woman's pension") has been set at about 60 per cent. of Category A retirement pension since it was introduced. We have no plans to change this.
34. Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of widows who will suffer a reduction in their SERPS entitlement from April. [79762]
Mr. Timms:
Information in the exact form requested is not available. The table provides forecast information on the average number of widows who could be affected at any one time in each year of the next 10 years. It should be noted that some of these people may have no SERPS entitlement and, therefore, will not be affected by the change.
| Potential number of widows affected (Thousand) | |
|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | 15 |
| 2000-01 | 50 |
| 2001-02 | 90 |
| 2002-03 | 130 |
| 2003-04 | 175 |
| 2004-05 | 225 |
| 2005-06 | 275 |
| 2006-07 | 330 |
| 2007-08 | 390 |
| 2008-09 | 450 |
| 2009-10 | 515 |
Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5,000.
2. The proposed new schemes for widows and widowers under state pension age have not been taken into account, nor have the half rate inheritance changes beginning in April 2000.
3. Figures are for GB only.
Source:
Government Actuary's Department
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements are being made to ensure that widows who have lost bereavement tax credit receive comparable benefits. [79750]
Angela Eagle: No one who already has the Widow's Bereavement Tax allowance will lose it. Anyone who claims the allowance before 5 April 2000 will receive it in the normal way--for the tax year they claim and the following year.
In the future, widows and widowers who are under pension age will be able to claim the new bereavement benefits, which will include the Bereavement Payment--a tax free lump sum of £2,000 payable to widows and widowers. This is double the amount of the current lump sum, Widow's Payment.
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35. Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what way the Government have taken into account the views of respondents to the consultation on the Green Paper on Welfare Reform. [79763]
Mr. Timms:
Responses are assessed as individual policy areas are developed and announcements made.
37. Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the numbers of retirement pensioners; and what estimate has been made of the number in 10 years' time. [79765]
Mr. Timms:
For 1998-99, the estimated average number of pensioners is 10.7 million. The average for 2008-09 is 12 million.
Notes:
1. The estimates are for Great Britain and overseas.
2. The estimates exclude those receiving only Graduated Retirement Benefit.
Source:
1. Pensions Strategy Computer System.
2. Government Actuary's Department.
Lone Parents
38. Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce incentives to assist lone parents into employment. [79766]
Angela Eagle: The Government have introduced a number of measures to give all lone parents the opportunity to work.
In the Budget we announced plans to increase the support available to lone parents going into work. From this October, those getting Income Support will continue to receive that benefit for two weeks when they start work and claim Working Families Tax Credit. This will give real help with meeting expenses, including child care costs, in the period up to the first payday. At present, concerns about such expenses can deter lone parents from making the move into work.
The National Minimum Wage and the Working Families Tax Credit will help ensure that work pays for lone parents. We are also helping lone parents overcome the barriers they face in moving into work through the New Deal for Lone Parents and the National Childcare Strategy.
Mr. Pond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which categories of disability living allowance recipients are exempt from the review process which replaces the benefit integrity project. [79734]
Mr. Darling:
At the outset, certain groups of disabled people will not be contacted as part of the new periodic inquiry process. These include anyone whose case has been examined by the Benefit Integrity Project; anyone excluded from the activity of the Benefit Integrity Project; anyone with a fixed period award of DLA due to expire within the next three years, and anyone who is treated as being terminally ill within the Department's definition.
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Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list for (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each region of England, the number of disabled people who have been awarded disability living allowance since 1 June 1997 (i) on their initial application, (ii) at review and (iii) at appeal; [80938]
Mr. Bayley:
The administration of Social Security benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
(2) if he will list for (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) England and (e) the United Kingdom, the number of people who applied (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully in the last year for disability living allowance. [80940]
| Region | On initial application | At review | At appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | |||
| North East | 19,900 | 3,180 | 2,240 |
| Yorks and Humberside | 29,600 | 5,660 | 2,640 |
| East Midlands | 26,460 | 3,920 | 1,040 |
| Eastern | 25,580 | 3,520 | 1,280 |
| London | 36,900 | 5,900 | 2,540 |
| South East | 29,240 | 4,740 | 1,780 |
| South West | 24,120 | 3,200 | 1,300 |
| West Midlands | 34,180 | 4,620 | 1,180 |
| North West | 45,180 | 9,860 | 4,900 |
| Wales | 24,720 | 4,180 | 1,420 |
| Scotland | 31,740 | 7,680 | 4,840 |
| Northern Ireland | 22,395 | 7,044 | 1,318 |
Figures are for the period 1 June 1997 to 28 February 1999
Figures for England Scotland and Wales are estimates by Analytical Services Division based on a 5 per cent. sample
Figures for Northern Ireland (NI) based on 100 per cent. data and provided by DHSS (NI)
The Regions of England are Government Office Regions
| Successful application | Unsuccessful application | |
|---|---|---|
| England | 148,428 | 169,872 |
| Wales | 13,029 | 16,333 |
| Scotland | 17,345 | 26,576 |
| Northern Ireland | 12,492 | 9,359 |
| United Kingdom | 191,294 | 222,140 |
Figures for England Scotland and Wales provided by Analytical Services Division based on 100 per cent. data
Figures for Northern Ireland (NI) based on 100 per cent. data and provided by DHSS (NI)
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Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) England and (e) the United Kingdom, the number of people whose main disabling condition is deafness (i) who were awarded disability living allowance since 1 June 1997 (1) on their initial application, (2) at review and (3) at appeal, and (ii) who applied (x) successfully and (y) unsuccessfully in the last year for disability living allowance. [80939]
Mr. Bayley: The administration of Social Security benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
| Initial Application | Review | Appeal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 3,300 | 1,540 | 1,520 |
| Wales | 260 | 100 | 40 |
| Scotland | 120 | 140 | 160 |
| Northern Ireland | 221 | 51 | 15 |
| United Kingdom | 3,901 | 1,831 | 1,735 |
Notes:
Figures relate to the period 1 June 1997 to 28 February 1998
Figures for England Scotland and Wales are estimates by Analytical Services Division based on a 5 per cent. sample
Figures for Norther Ireland (NI) based on 100 per cent. data and provided by DHSS (NI)
| Area | |
|---|---|
| England | 1,900 |
| Wales | 180 |
| Scotland | 80 |
| Northern Ireland | 126 |
| United Kingdom | 2,286 |
Notes:
Figures relate to awards on initial application
Figures relate to the twelve months ending 30 November 1998
Figures for England Scotland and Wales are estimates by Analytical Services Division based on a 5 per cent. sample
Figures for Northern Ireland (NI) based on 100 per cent. data and provided by DHSS (NI)
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