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Vaccine Damage Payment Act
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been made in the rules for eligibility for payments under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979 in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [137776]
Mr. Bayley: The Vaccine Damage Payment (VDP) Act 1979 provides a single, tax-free payment for people who have suffered severe mental and/or physical disablement of 80 per cent. or more as a result of vaccination against one or a group of specified diseases following a claim made within six years of the date of vaccination or of a child reaching the age of two whichever is the later. The only changes to the eligibility rules which have been made since 1979 are the addition of mumps in April 1990 and haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) in May 1995 to the list of specified diseases.
16 Nov 2000 : Column: 787W
On 27 June 2000, Official Report, columns 719-20, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced a number of changes to the VDP scheme. In addition to increasing the level of the one-off payment for £40,000 to £100,000, these changes included proposals to amend the time limits for claiming a payment to age 21 in the case of children, and to reduce the disability threshold from 80 per cent. to 60 per cent.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further plans he has to increase the take-up of the minimum income guarantee. [135755]
Mr. Rooker: We are determined to ensure that pensioners on low incomes claim what they are entitled to. The minimum income guarantee take-up campaign is still in progress.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners he estimates are (a) eligible for and (b) claiming the Minimum Income Guarantee for each parliamentary constituency in Wales. [136646]
Mr. Rooker: It is only possible to answer part (b) of the hon. Member's question.
Notes:
1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to sampling error.
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.
3. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where the claimant and/or their partner are aged 60 or over.
4. Cases have been allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the 2000 version 1 of the Postcode Director. Constituency boundaries are represented as at May 1997.
Source:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000
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Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) of 2 November 2000, Official Report, column 573W, if he will list the percentage of each five year age group above the age of 60 years who are in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee, broken down by gender. [137387]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 9 November 2000]: The information is in the table.
| Age | Number (Thousand) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| All claimants | 1,615 | 13.6 |
| All males | ||
| 60-64(8) | 184 | 13.5 |
| 65-69 | 93 | 7.7 |
| 70-74 | 72 | 7.0 |
| 75-79 | 61 | 7.4 |
| 80 or over | 112 | 16.0 |
| All females | ||
| 60-64(8) | 122 | 8.6 |
| 65-69 | 119 | 9.0 |
| 70-74 | 141 | 11.3 |
| 75-79 | 193 | 16.3 |
| 80 or over | 517 | 33.3 |
(8) 60-64 age band includes claimants aged under 60 where there is a partner aged 60 or over.
Notes:
1. Figures are based on 5 per cent. sample, therefore subject to sampling error.
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
3. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.
4. "Percentage of the population" is based on ONS population estimates for mid-term 1999, and represents Income Support claimants in each age band as a proportion of the population of the same age and gender.
Sources:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000.
Population estimates unit--ONS mid-term estimates for 1999.
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Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement regarding the level of complexity of the form that needs to be completed by pensioners wishing to claim the Minimum Income Guarantee and its impact on the numbers of people making a claim. [137617]
Mr. Rooker: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has said in his statement on 9 November 2000, Official Report, columns 451-55, the Department is examining measures which will reduce the complexity of the current system and encourage pensioners to claim their correct benefit entitlement.
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a geographical breakdown of the number of pensioners who are estimated to be entitled to the Minimum Income Guarantee but do not claim it. [138311]
Mr. Rooker: The information is not available.
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the rate of Minimum Income Guarantee per week from April 2001. [138432]
Mr. Rooker: In April 2001, the Minimum Income Guarantee will be set at £92.15 for single pensioners and £140.55 for couples.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate, making no allowance for behavioural change, of how many pensioner households will benefit from the Minimum Income Guarantee in 2050. [138349]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 15 November 2000]: Making no allowance for behavioural change, the figure remains at one in four--the same as given in the Pensions Green Paper "Partnership in Pensions" (Cm 4179).
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many retired people who qualify for payment of the Minimum Income Guarantee are receiving it. [138522]
Mr. Rooker: Some 2 million pensioners either as singles or couples receive the Minimum Income Guarantee. Figures for those who might be entitled but are not claiming were based on a 1 per cent. sample. We shall have a better estimate of those entitled but not claiming when the present take-up campaign is concluded, during which we are making direct contact with 2.3 million pensioners.
"Voices"
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spent on advertising space in the recent Government publication, "Voices". [135584]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The total cost of advertising space was £5,477.85 including VAT. In addition we spent £1,395.90 on design and production.
"Voices" magazine represents a good opportunity for us to make women aware of information available on a number of issues that may affect them. The pack that women are sent when they respond to the advert contains
16 Nov 2000 : Column: 790W
information about: pension options; changes to the state pension age and Inherited SERPS; help available for new mothers and support in times of bereavement.
Pensioner Incomes
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the income ratio is between the top fifth and the bottom fifth of pensioners; and what it would be if the link between the basic pension and average earnings had been retained. [136046]
Mr. Rooker: In 1998-99, the ratio of average (median) incomes in the top fifth compared to the bottom fifth of the pensioners' income distribution was 3.1 for single pensioners and 3.5 for pensioner couples. The other information requested is not available.
Notes:
1. pensioners are defined as single people aged over state pension age (65 for men, 60 for women) and couples (married or cohabiting) where the man is over state pension age.
2. Income is defined as net income before housing costs. The income distribution has been calculated separately for single pensioners and pensioner couples.
Source:
The Pensioners' Income Series 1998-99, published on 26 October 2000.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 2000, Official Report, column 122-29W, on pensioner incomes, if he will provide estimates on the same basis for 1998-99. [138030]
Mr. Rooker: The information is in the tables.
| Age | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marital Status | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80+ |
| Single male pensioners | n/a | 133 | 124 | 114 | 112 |
| Single female pensioners | 123 | 114 | 102 | 100 | 99 |
| Pensioner couples | n/a | 268 | 233 | 192 | 182 |
Notes:
1. All amounts are in £ per week at July 1998 prices. They are rounded to the nearest £1, although estimates are not necessarily accurate to this level.
2. Estimates are for pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as a single (non-cohabiting) person over state pension age (65 years or above for men and 60 years or above for women), or a couple (married or cohabiting) where the man, defined as the head, is over state pension age. Estimates for pensioner couples are broken down by the age of the man.
3. Estimates marked 'n/a' are not applicable. Single men and couples are only defined as pensioner units if the man is aged 65 years or above.
4. Means-tested benefits are defined as Income Support, Family Credit, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit and Social Fund Grants.
5. Levels of means-tested benefit may be particularly affected by mis-reporting by survey respondents, as it is thought that receipt of State Retirement Pension and receipt of Income Support are often confused in the FRS.
Source:
The Pensioners' Incomes Series dataset, based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS) 1998-99.
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| Age | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marital Status | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80+ |
| Single male pensioners | n/a | 200,000 | 250,000 | 210,000 | 280,000 |
| Single female pensioners | 370,000 | 560,000 | 690,000 | 740,000 | 880,000 |
| Pensioner couples | n/a | 1,010,000 | 810,000 | 520,000 | 330,000 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000 pensioner units
2. Estimates are for pensioner units. A pensioner unit is defined as a single (non-cohabiting) person over state pension age (65 years or above for men and 60 years or above for women), or a couple (married or cohabiting) where the man, defined as the head, is over state pension age. Estimates for pensioner couples are broken down by the age of the man.
3. Estimates marked 'n/a' are not applicable. Single men and couples are only defined as pensioner units if the man is aged 65 years or above.
4. Estimates are not controlled to independent population estimates by the age bands used.
Source:
The Pensioners' Incomes Series dataset, based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS) 1998-99.
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have been newly awarded (a) Income Support and (b) the Minimum Income Guarantee in each quarter since 1997. [138309]
Mr. Rooker: The information is in the table.
| Quarter | New claims |
|---|---|
| 1997 | |
| February | 49,000 |
| May | 64,000 |
| August | 52,000 |
| November | 47,000 |
| 1998 | |
| February | 49,000 |
| May | 50,000 |
| August | 48,000 |
| November | 49,000 |
| 1999 | |
| February | 50,000 |
| May | 64,000 |
| August | 56,000 |
| November | 52,000 |
| 2000 | |
| February | 44,000 |
| May | 66,000 |
Notes:
1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
3. As inquiries are taken at a point in time, no account can be taken of claimants who flow on and then off again, and visa versa, between the dates of the inquiry. Therefore, the numbers will underestimate the true level of inflows and outflows although the net combined effect will be correct.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Inquiries, February 1997 to May 2000.
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Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Slough are eligible for (a) the Winter Fuel Allowance, (b) a free television licence to over 75-year-olds and (c) the Minimum Income Guarantee; and if he will make a statement. [138717]
Mr. Rooker: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) pensioners | 2.6 |
| Pensioners over 75 | 5.5 |
| Winter Fuel Payments total claimants paid | 13.4 |
Notes:
1. All except Winter Fuel Payment data are based on 5 per cent. samples, therefore subject to sampling error.
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.
3. Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the 2000 Version 1 of the Postcode Directory supplied by ONS. Constituency boundaries are represented as at May 1997.
4. MIG Pensioners are defined as Income Support benefit units where either the claimant and/or the partner is aged 60 or over.
5. Number of pensioner households who will receive free TV licences is not directly known, but from the statistical samples it is possible to produce data on the number of pensioners receiving one or a combination of Retirement Pension, MIG, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance by parliamentary constituency and are aged 75 or over.
Sources:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000
Statistical samples held by ASD Information Centre, May 2000
Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuel Payment
1999-2000 exercise
Mr. Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Chatham and Aylesford are eligible for the (a) winter fuel allowance, (b) free television licence for over 75-year-olds and (c) minimum income guarantee; and if he will make a statement. [138720]
Mr. Rooker: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) pensioners | 1.6 |
| Pensioners over 75 | 5.0 |
| Winter Fuel Payments total claimants paid | 12.8 |
Notes:
1. All except Winter Fuel Payment data are based on 5 per cent. samples, therefore subject to sampling error.
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.
3. Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the 2000 Version 1 of the Postcode Directory supplied by ONS. Constituency boundaries are represented as at May 1997.
4. MIG Pensioners are defined as Income Support benefit units where either the claimant and/or the partner is aged 60 or over.
5. Number of pensioner households who will receive free TV licences is not directly known, but from the statistical samples it is possible to produce data on the number of pensioners receiving one or a combination of Retirement Pension, MIG, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance by parliamentary constituency and are aged 75 or over.
Sources:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000
Statistical samples held by ASD Information Centre, May 2000
Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuel Payment
1999-2000 exercise
16 Nov 2000 : Column: 793W
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Sittingbourne and Sheppey are eligible for (a) winter fuel allowance, (b) free television licence for over 75-year- olds and (c) minimum income guarantee; and if he will make a statement. [138718]
Mr. Rooker: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Category | Number (Thousand) |
|---|---|
| Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) pensioners | 2.1 |
| Pensioners over 75 | 5.9 |
| Winter fuel payments total claimants paid | 14.7 |
Notes:
1. All except Winter Fuel Payment data are based on 5 per cent. samples, therefore subject to sampling error.
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.
3. Cases are allocated to each Parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the 2000 Version 1 of the Postcode Directory supplied by ONS. Constituency boundaries are represented as at May 1997.
4. MIG Pensioners are defined as Income Support benefit units where either the claimant and/or the partner is aged 60 or over.
5. Number of pensioner households who will receive free TV licences is not directly known, but from the statistical samples it is possible to produce data on the number of pensioners receiving one or a combination of Retirement Pension, MIG, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance by Parliamentary constituency and are aged 75 or over.
Sources:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000.
Statistical samples held by ASD Information Centre--May 2000
Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuels Payment 1999-2000 exercise.
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