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Pensioners (Incomes)
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have incomes (a) below, (b) up to £10, (c) £10 to £20, (d) £20 to £30 and (e) £30 or more above the minimum income guarantee level; and if he will identify in each case how many have savings of (i) nil, (ii) £0 to £3,000, (iii) £3,000 to £8,000, (iv) £8,000 to £12,000, (v) £12,000 to £20,000 and (vi) £20,000 and above. [134557]
Mr. Rooker: The information is in the table.
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| Income for MIG calculation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savings | Below MIG | £0-10 | £10-20 | £20-30 | £30-40 | Total |
| £0 | 800 | 200 | 100 | 100 | 600 | 1,900 |
| £0-£3,000 | 500 | 200 | 100 | 100 | 1,000 | 1,800 |
| £3,000-£8,000 | 200 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 700 | 1,100 |
| £8,000-£12,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 400 | 500 |
| £12,000-£20,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 600 | 700 |
| £20,000+ | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,900 | 1,900 |
| Total | 1,500 | 500 | 400 | 300 | 5,200 | 7,900 |
Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 cases. No figure is shown where the caseload is less than 50,000.
2. The figures have been calculated using the Policy Simulation Model for Income Related Benefits. This models the benefits system in 2001-02 and is based on data and the Family Resources Survey (FRS) for 1997-98, uprated to 2001 prices.
3. Figures exclude Residential Care or Nursing Home cases.
4. These figures are not calibrated to administrative records of capital levels and as with all survey data may be subject to survey errors.
5. Figures do not include entitled non-recipients of the MIG.
6. Income is defined according to the amount used for the calculation of a benefit award and therefore may differ from actual pensioner income.
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Pensioners (Income Support)
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioners are claiming Income Support; and if he will break this figure down by (a) age and (b) gender. [135754]
Mr. Bayley: There are currently 1.6 million pensioners in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. This represents 13.6 per cent. of the pensioner population of Great Britain.
| Age | Male claimants | Female claimants |
|---|---|---|
| 60-74 years | 9.7 | 9.6 |
| 75-79 years | 7.4 | 16.3 |
| 80 years and over | 16.0 | 33.3 |
| All pensioners | 10.2 | 16.2 |
Notes:
1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
2. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.
3. Figure may include claimants who are in Residential Care/Nursing Homes.
4. Percentages are calculated using the ONS mid-term 1999 population estimates for the relevant gender and age band, and have been rounded to one decimal.
Sources:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 2000
Office for National Statistics Mid-term Population Estimates, 1999
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners received the minimum income guarantee in each month since January to date. [135931]
Mr. Bayley: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Month | Number of claimants |
|---|---|
| February | 1,604,200 |
| May | 1,614,500 |
Notes:
1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
2. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, February and May 2000
Pensioners (State Pension)
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are not receiving their correct state pension because of the problems with the NIRS2 computer system. [135722]
Mr. Rooker: As at 15 September 2000, Benefit Agency offices had 97,000 pension awards waiting to be reviewed. Not all of these, however, will result in the rate
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of pension in payment having to be revised as that rate may be correct because of the contingency arrangements deployed by the Benefits Agency.
Pensioners (Occupational Pensions)
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a breakdown by (a) age and (b) gender, of the proportion of pensioners who receive an occupational pension of over £20 per week. [135750]
Mr. Rooker: The information is as follows:
| Age | All | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60-64 | 22 | n/a | 22 |
| 65-69 | 41 | 58 | 27 |
| 70-74 | 39 | 56 | 24 |
| 75-79 | 36 | 51 | 27 |
| 80 and over | 29 | 47 | 23 |
| All over State Pension age | 35 | 38 | 21 |
Notes:
1. Pensioners are defined as individuals over State Pension age (65 for men, 60 for women), hence males aged 60 -64 are not included in the analysis.
2. Occupational pension income includes amounts paid to widows from occupational pension schemes.
3. For individuals with more than one occupational pension or widows' pension only the four highest amounts of occupational pension and three highest amounts of widows' pension are taken into account in calculating these percentages.
Source:
Family Resources Survey 1998-99
Sickness Absence
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department since 1999 in reducing sickness absence; what targets he has agreed with the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement. [135495]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 30 October 2000]: Since "Working Well Together Report, Managing Attendance In the Public Sector" was issued in 1998, the Department has reviewed and revised the procedures for managing sickness absence in line with the recommendations in that report.
The Cabinet Office prepares each year an annual report of sickness absence in the Civil Service which includes information for each Department. The report for 1999 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
Details of the Department's targets for reduced sickness absence for the years 2001 and 2003 against a baseline year of 1998 will be included in its Service Delivery Agreement. This is also to be published shortly.
This Department has agreed the following targets with Cabinet Office for reducing sickness absence: 20 per cent. reduction to 9.7 average working days lost by December 2001; a 30 per cent. reduction to 8.5 average working days lost by December 2003.
Earnings Link
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when he expects to receive the Government
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Actuary's report under section 36 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 on the cost of restoring the earnings link; [136045]
- (2) what representations he has made to the Government Actuary's Department regarding the timing of the Actuary's report under section 36 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 on the cost of restoring the earnings link; [136048]
(3) if he has received a draft of the Government Actuary's report under section 36 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 on the cost of restoring the earnings link. [136050]
Mr. Rooker: The Government Actuary is currently finalising his report on the effect on the National Insurance Fund of an earnings uprating of basic State Retirement Pension, and it will be published when it is completed.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Harmon CFEM Facades
Mrs. Roe: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement about the matter of Harmon CFEM Facades v. the Corporate Officer of the House of Commons. [136650]
Mr. Kirkwood: The House of Commons Commission settled its dispute with Harmon CFEM Facades (UK) Limited on 16 August 2000 at the figure of £5.26 million, which included a contribution to Harmon's costs. This sum was very substantially less than that claimed by Harmon.
In making the decision to settle, the Commission took into consideration the judgments of His Honour Judge Humphrey Lloyd QC at the liability trial and at the later interim payment hearing. The subsequent decision in the House's favour of Lord Justice Kennedy to grant permission to appeal the interim payment judgment was a significant factor in reducing the amount of the settlement.
In deciding to settle the action the Commission took into account that were the House to be awarded its costs of defending the damages action (due to be heard in April 2001) the prospect of recovering them was nil due to Harmon's insolvency.
While the Commission is satisfied that a settlement was obtained at a figure substantially less than the amount of Harmon's claim, it is reviewing the outcome of the case.
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