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Pensions

Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people (a) are eligible for and (b) claim the state pension in (i) Scotland, (ii) Dumfries and Galloway and (iii) Galloway and Upper Nithsdale parliamentary constituency. [124729]

Mr. Rooker: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

There were an estimated 919,600 people of pensionable age resident in Scotland in mid-1998. It is not known how many of these were eligible for the State Retirement Pension.

31,800 people of pensionable age were estimated to be resident in Dumfries and Galloway unitary local authority in mid-1998 and 14,700 people of pensionable age were estimated to be resident in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale parliamentary constituency in 1991.

An estimated 875,500 people were receiving State Retirement Pension in Scotland in March 1999.

Notes:

1. Population of pensionable age defined as men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over.

2. Population estimates provided by the Office for National Statistics and are rounded to the nearest 100 persons.

3. Population estimates are not available at constituency level. Constituency level data are derived from the 1991 Census.

4. Numbers of retirement pension recipients derived from a 5 per cent. sample of the Pensions Computer Strategy System. Estimates rounded to nearest 100 persons. Local authority and constituency level data are not available.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the amount of the basic pension would be if it had been uprated in line with hon. Members' salaries since 1987. [124247]

Mr. Rooker [holding answer 6 June 2000]: The basic State Pension for a single person in 1987 was £39.50 a week. By 2000 it would have been raised by a factor of 2.61, had it been increased in line with hon. Members salaries over this period.

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By definition a salary would be presumed to be enough to live on whereas the basic State Pension is not intended to be more than the foundation of total pensioner income, which for the 1997-98 tax year averaged £132 per week net for a single pensioner, this is of course more than twice the level of the basic State Pension for that year.

Winter Fuel Payments

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were recipients of winter fuel payments in 1999-2000; how many people who were eligible he estimates did not take advantage of these payments; and if he will make a statement. [124546]

Angela Eagle: In the winter of 1999-2000 around 10 million people in over 7.5 million households received winter fuel payments.

In the first three winters of the winter fuel payment scheme, eligibility was based on receipt of one of a number of Social Security benefits. We were able to identify those eligible through the benefit computer systems, and then make payments automatically. There was therefore no need for anyone to claim their winter fuel payment, and all those eligible should have received the payment.

As a result of changes to the winter fuel payment eligibility rules announced in December 1999, it has been necessary to introduce a claims process so that people aged 60 and over can establish whether they are eligible. The new rules are being backdated to the beginning of the scheme in the winter of 1997-98. The claims process will enable newly eligible people, many of whom are not in receipt of benefits and who will therefore not be identifiable through the benefit computer systems, to claim their winter fuel payments for past winters. It is too early to say what proportion of the newly eligible population will apply for such payments.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in (a) Scotland, (b) Dumfries and Galloway and (c) Galloway and Upper Nithsdale parliamentary constituency have claimed support under the minimum income guarantee. [124714]

Mr. Bayley: Approximately 21,000 new claims have been made for the minimum income guarantee in Scotland since its introduction in 1999.

Current numbers of pensioners in receipt of the minimum income guarantee--February 2000

Parliamentary Constituency/Local Authority Area/Country	Number
Scotland	162,000
Dumfries and Galloway Local Authority Area	4,000
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale Parliamentary Constituency	2,000

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. Pensioners are defined as a benefit unit where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 or over.

3. Sample size 5 per cent.

4. Figures are allocated by matching the postcode against the 1999 version 2 of the Postcode Directory.

Source:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 2000.

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ONE Service

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the ONE service operation currently piloted in 12 locations will be extended to other areas; when the Portsmouth area will be covered; and if he will make a statement. [124554]

Angela Eagle: The 12 pilots of the new ONE service are planned to run until March 2002. The pilots have been designed to test the effectiveness of work-focused interviews for all working-age clients and to develop appropriate models for the integration and improvement of welfare services. No decision has yet been made as to when ONE might be extended beyond the current pilot areas.

Disability Living Allowance (Children)

Mr. Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what percentage of children who had their first claim for Disability Living Allowance disallowed, appealed against the decision in (a) Halton, (b) the North West and (c) England and Wales in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; [123927]

(2) what percentages of children under the age of five years making their first claim for Disability Living Allowance, had their claim (a) disallowed and (b) allowed in (i) Halton, (ii) the North West and (iii) England and Wales in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; [123928]

(3) how many children aged under five years in (a) Halton, (b) the North West and (c) England and Wales made a first claim for Disability Living Allowance in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [123929]

Mr. Bayley: The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Charlie MacKinnon to Mr. Derek Twigg, dated 6 June 2000:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Alexis Cleveland to respond to your recent Parliamentary Questions about claims for Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Due to annual leave I am replying on her behalf.

Information about claims for DLA is not available in relation to an individual constituency or an unsuccessful applicant. However, I am able to provide the information as shown in the attached appendices.

Information about children who had their first claim for DLA disallowed and then appealed against the decision is shown in Appendix 1.

The reviews figures noted in the tables refer to claims which were originally disallowed and then subsequently awarded as a result of a review by DLA. The appeal figures refer to claims that were originally disallowed, subject to a review and disallowed and then awarded as the result of an appeal.

The details about children under the age of five making their first claim for DLA are shown in Appendix 2.

It should be noted that figures held for Halton Parliamentary Constituency which are relevant, are unreliable because of the small number of cases in the 5% data source. The review figures quoted are for claims which were originally disallowed and awarded following a review and the appeals figures, are for claims which were disallowed after review and subsequently awarded as a result of an appeal.

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I regret that figures held by the Department for all claims are not in a form that enables me to supply you with the information requested.

I hope this is helpful.

Appendix 1:(1) Children aged under 16 in England and Wales awarded Disability Living Allowance

	1997	1998	1999
All awards	34,300	32,000	33,100
On initial claim	27,500	26,500	27,700
On review	5,300	4,000	4,000
On appeal	1,500	1,500	1,400

Appendix 1:(2) Children aged under 16 in the North West awarded Disability Living Allowance

	1997	1998	1999
All awards	2,200	2,900	4,800
On initial claim	1,600	2,200	3,700
On review	(5)400	600	800
On appeal	(5)200	(5)100	(5)200

(5) Number too small to be statistically reliable

Note:

Please note that the figures have been rounded up

Appendix 2:(1) Children aged under 5 in England and Wales awarded Disability Living Allowance

	1997	1998	1999
All awards	16,500	15,800	15,200
On initial claim	13,700	13,500	13,300
On review	2,400	1,900	1,700
On appeal	500	(6)400	(6)300

(6) Please note that the figures have been rounded up

Appendix 2:(2) Children aged under 5 in the North West awarded Disability Living Allowance

	1997	1998	1999
All awards	1,000	1,500	2,200
On initial claim	700	1,100	1,800
On review	(7)200	(7)300	(7)400
On appeal	(7)100	--	--

(7) Please note that these figures have been rounded up

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