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Non-state Pension
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) people, (b) men and (c) women of working age have contributed to a non-state pension in at least three out of the last four years. [5220]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 19 July 2001]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Male | 58 |
| Female | 40 |
| All | 49 |
Notes:
1. Working age refers to all those aged between 20 and the State Retirement Age who are in work.
2. Information on 1998–01 (inclusive) is not available.
Source:
British Household Panel Survey
Income Support
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working aged people had been living in families in receipt of income support or income-based job seeker's allowance for two years or more in 2001. [5236]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 19 July 2001]: The information is in the table.
| Thousand | ||
|---|---|---|
| Income support | Income-based jobseeker's allowance | |
| All beneficiaries | 1,605.5 | 139.0 |
| Claimants aged under 60 years | 1,383.9 | 114.6 |
| Partners aged under 60 years | 222.6 | 24.4 |
1. Working age is defined in this instance as people aged 16 to 59 inclusive.
2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
4. Income-based JSA cases will include some claimants with an underlying entitlement to contribution-based JSA.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 2001.
Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, February 2001.
20 Jul 2001 : Column: 698W
Severe Disablement Allowance
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in the London borough of Wandsworth are in receipt of a severe disablement allowance. [5413]
Malcolm Wicks: As at 28 February 2001, there were 1,000 recipients of severe disablement allowance in the London borough of Wandsworth. This figure is rounded to the nearest hundred and based on a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system which excludes a small number of clerically held cases.
Departmental Press Release
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press releases were issued by his Department (a) in total, (b) on the Minimum Income Guarantee, (c) on Benefit Fraud, (d) on the Winter Fuel Payment, (e) on Stakeholder Pensions and (f) on the Child Support Agency in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001 to date; and what the estimated total cost was of issuing press releases in each year. [5883]
Mr. McCartney: The information is in the table.
| Year | Total for year(63) | Minimum Income Guarantee | Benefit Fraud | Winter Fuel Payment | Stakeholder Pensions | Child Support Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 290 | — | 17 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| 1998 | 311 | 3 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| 1999 | 260 | 6 | 49 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| 2000 | 411 | 6 | 70 | 7 | 11 | 11 |
| 2001(63) | 244 | 3 | 28 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
(63) To date
Notes:
1. These are the totals of "all" press releases issued in each year and the costs reflect these totals.
2. Numbers of press releases are recorded on a calendar year basis from January to December each year.
Costs are recorded in financial years from April to March and are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 16,328 |
| 1998–99 | 18,461 |
| 1999–2000 | 16,220 |
| 2000–01 | 15,054 |
| 2001–02 | (64)6,343 |
(64) estimated to date
Disability Working Allowance
Mr. Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people were in receipt of the Disability Working Allowance in September 1999. [5445]
20 Jul 2001 : Column: 699W
Malcolm Wicks: At 30 September 1999, there were 16,834 people in receipt of Disability Working Allowance.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement clarifying the JSA rules in respect of payments of additional moneys to fathers who are separated but share the care of their children. [4968]
Malcolm Wicks: Jobseekers are entitled to additional benefit in respect of dependants only if they are in receipt of Child Benefit. This ensures that Social Security benefits paid in respect of the same dependants are aligned and paid to the adult primarily responsible for their care.
Pensioners (Romford)
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Romford benefit from (a) the Winter Fuel Allowance and (b) free television licences. [6272]
Mr. McCartney: Last winter, 2000–01, around 15,500 winter fuel payments were made, to people aged 60 or over, in Romford.
The BBC is responsible for the administration of the free television licence scheme, and we understand that a geographical distribution of the number of free licences issued is not available. However, we estimate that 5,700 people aged over 75 years old (who may benefit from a free television licence) live in Romford.
Widows' Pension Entitlement
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the provision whereby widows lose their pension entitlement on remarriage both in terms of (a) the basic state pension and (b) occupational pensions. [5563]
Mr. McCartney: There are no plans to change current provisions in regard to state pension for widows who remarry.
There is no requirement for occupational pension schemes to provide lifetime pensions for surviving spouses. Entitlement will depend on what is set out in the rules of each individual scheme. A number of public service schemes are currently considering the issue.
Invalid Care Allowance
Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Government plan to bring forward legislation to allow carers over the age of 65 years to receive new awards of invalid care allowance. [6094]
Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, North (Mr. Hughes) today.
20 Jul 2001 : Column: 700W
Minimum Income Guarantee
Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners in the Henley constituency eligible for the minimum income guarantee have so far claimed it. [6091]
Mr. McCartney: Estimates of the numbers of eligible people who have not claimed the minimum income guarantee, are not available below national level.
As at February 2001, there were 1,100 minimum income guarantee claimants in the Henley constituency.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners in the Romford constituency who are eligible for the minimum income guarantee have claimed it. [6273]
Mr. McCartney: Estimates of the numbers of eligible people who have not claimed the minimum income guarantee are not available below national level.
As at February 2001, there were 1,600 minimum income guarantee claimants in the Romford constituency.
Care Homes
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what level of support funding is made available by his Department to care home owners; and if he will make a statement; [6392]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the costs levied on care homes as a result of the introduction of (a) the national minimum wage and (b) the passing of the Care Standards Act 2000. [6393]
Maria Eagle: This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Department of Health.
Annuities
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will calculate the date at which a single man of 65 years retiring today relying solely on pensions savings of £100,000 buying a level single annuity at market rates can be expected to become eligible for Income Support if the minimum income guarantee for pensioners continues to be linked to earnings. [6007]
Mr. McCartney: I will write to the hon. Member.
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