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2 Apr 2003 : Column 724W—continued
Benefits (Scotland)
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the population in Scotland were in receipt of means tested benefits in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available. [103021]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the tables.
The latest data available for all income related benefits is May 2001. Please note that figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
| All | 60 or over | Under 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1997: All income related benefits (including FC and DWA)(7) | |||
| Adult beneficiaries (Thousand) | 940,000 | 400,000 | 540,000 |
| Percentage of relevant population | n/a | n/a | n/a |
(7) Income related benefits are IS, JSA (IB), HB, CTB, FC and DWA excluding all overlaps between benefits.
| All | 60 or over | Under 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1997: Income related benefits (excluding FC and DWA)(8) | |||
| Adult beneficiaries (Thousand) | 900,000 | 400,000 | 500,000 |
| Percentage of relevant population | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| May 2001: Income related benefits(8) | |||
| Adult beneficiaries (Thousand) | 780,000 | 360,000 | 420,000 |
| Percentage of relevant population | 19.2 | 33.7 | 14.0 |
(8) Income related benefits are IS, JSA (IB), HB, CTB, excluding all overlaps between benefits.
For 1997, overlaps with FC and/or DWA have not been considered.
For 2001, overlaps with Working Families Tax Credit and/or Disabled Persons Tax Credit have not been considered.
In May 1997: income related benefits were Income Support (IS), Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA (IB)), Housing Benefit (HB), Council Tax Benefit (CTB), Family Credit (FC) and Disability Working Allowance (DWA). However, in October 1999 FC and DWA were replaced as Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit. Therefore, as the figures for 2001 will only include IS, JSA (IB), HB and CTB, figures are provided for May 1997 both including and excluding FC and DWA to enable comparisons to be made.
Notes:
1. Figures for beneficiaries have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand.
2. Percentages for May 2001 are derived from the mid-2001 ONS population estimates.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 and May 2001, 5 per cent. samples.
Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 and May 2001, 5 per cent. samples.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 1997 and 2001.
Family Credit Computer System, May 1997, 100 per cent. count of all claims.
Disability Working Allowance Computer System, May 1997, 5 per cent. sample.
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Child Poverty
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children in poverty in Portsmouth, South in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [97276]
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children in poverty in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 1997. [96709]
Malcolm Wicks: Poverty is a complex and multi-dimensional problem that affects many aspects of people's lives. We published "Opportunity for all—Fourth Annual Report" (CM 5598) in September 2002, which contains information on a range of indicators of poverty for children and young people. Unfortunately, not all indicators can be broken down to the constituency level due to sample size limitations.
We expect to publish the preliminary conclusions of our consultation on Measuring Child Poverty in spring 2003.
Child Support Agency
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the implementation of the new Child Support Agency maintenance legislation. [105089]
Malcolm Wicks: We began operating the new child support scheme for new cases from 3 March. We intend to report to Parliament of progress when information on trends is available.
Civil Servant Retirement Plans
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total value of benefits paid to retirees in civil servant retirement plans was in each of the last 10 years. [105220]
Mr. Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
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The total of pension payments made to retired members (and dependants) of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme for each of the last 10 years is shown as follows.
| Year | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| 1992–93 | 2,067,179 |
| 1993–94 | 2,216,083 |
| 1994–95 | 2,281,541 |
| 1995–96 | 2,412,510 |
| 1996–97 | 2,508,824 |
| 1997–98 | 2,498,527 |
| 1998–99 | 2,547,568 |
| 1999–2000 | 2,642,655 |
| 2000–01 | 2,676,032 |
| 2001–02 | 2,727,787 |
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many retirees there are in public employee (civil servant) retirement plans. [105221]
Mr. Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
The number of members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme are as follows:
- Active members: 527,000
Deferred members: 263,000
Retired members (officers): 396,000
Retired members (widow(er)s): 126,000
Members in receipt of annual compensation (or other on-going payment) for which former employer is financially responsible: 20,000
Departmental File Stores
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice), of 3 March 2003, Official Report, columns 878–79W, and 4 March 2003, Official Report, columns 895–96W, on filestores, for what reason the (a) number of staff employed in the Department's filestores and (b) the cost of those stores has increased since 1998–99, with particular reference to the rises prior to the Department's name change. [104535]
Mr. McCartney: In the answers I gave earlier I explained that separate figures for staffing and costs for most filestores are not available for some or all of the years in the table. The available information included data from just 13 filestores in 1997–98, rising to 62 filestores in 2001–02. The figures for each year are therefore not comparable and there is no evidence that staffing numbers or costs have increased.
Pension Credit
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he intends to ensure that hard-to-reach pensioners, in particular those being cared for at
2 Apr 2003 : Column 727W
home by a family member, will receive information to help them to take up the benefits of the Pension Credit. [105817]
Mr. McCartney: As part of the Pension Credit take up campaign which will be running from April 2003 to June 2004, a specially designed direct mail pack will be issued to carers of pensioners. Targeted Press and TV advertising will also be used to ensure carers are notified of Pension Credit. This is to ensure that everyone aged 60 and over will have the necessary information and support in order to consider an application.
The Pension Service local service managers will work with partner organisations to advise pensioners about their entitlement. We hope to make full use of local business/community publicity and communications opportunities for Pension Credit to raise and maintain awareness of Pension Credit among pensioners, carers, friends and family.
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what help he will give those pensioners who (a) feel discouraged from filling in the form and (b) have literacy problems to apply for Pension Credit. [105818]
Mr. McCartney: People applying for Pension Credit will be encouraged to apply by telephone. In this way staff at dedicated Pension Credit telephone centres will complete the application form for the customer. This telephone service will be backed up by The Pension Service local service, for those customers who are unable to conduct their business by telephone. Local services are also working with their local partner organisations to reach those vulnerable customers who might not take-up their entitlements.
To support the organisation and ensure that we are prepared and equipped to handle the extra work, we have been recruiting the additional staff needed throughout The Pension Service (telephone service, pension centres and local service), so that we can handle the telephone calls and are able to process the applications.
Targeted Press and TV advertising will also be used to ensure pensioners, carers, family and friends are aware of Pension Credit. This is to ensure that everyone aged 60 and over will have the necessary information and support in order to consider an application.
For people with hearing and language difficulties, we will have a text-phone and will be producing large print, Braille, audio and translated versions of Pension Credit general information.
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