---

11 Apr 2003 : Column 470W—continued

Minimum Income Guarantee

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much additional money poorer pensioners are gaining through the minimum income guarantee above what they would have gained if the income support rates of 1997 had been increased only in line with earnings. [107189]

Maria Eagle: The information is in the following table.

Table 1: MIG rates payable from April 2003 compared to the rates that would have been payable if the income support rates had been increased only in line with earnings£ per week

Age and FamilyStatus	Actual rates payable from April 2003	April 2003 rates if increased by earnings since 1997	Difference
Single
60–74	102.10	88.55	13.55
75–79	102.10	91.35	10.75
80+	102.10	97.45	4.65
Couple
60–74	155.80	137.45	18.35
75–79	155.80	141.50	14.30
80+	155.80	148.20	7.60

Notes:

1. Earnings increases based on GB Average Earnings Index, whole economy, 3 month seasonally adjusted average for May to July.

2. Income Support was replaced by the Minimum Income Guarantee in April 1999

Source:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 2002.

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Leeds West are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. [107972]

Maria Eagle: As at November 2002 there were 3,700 people receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee in the Leeds West constituency.

*Source:

Income Support quarterly statistical enquiry. November 02.

11 Apr 2003 : Column 471W

National Insurance

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost will be to public funds in 2003–04 of the rise in national insurance contributions on the salary bill of his Department. [107909]

Maria Eagle: It is estimated that the changes to employers' national insurance contributions announced in the April 2002 Budget will increase pay costs on average by 0.7 per cent. this year.

Pensioner Households

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 167W, on pension supplement, what plans he has to consolidate the 25p per week pension supplement for those aged 80 or over with another benefit targeted at that group. [106200]

Maria Eagle: The 25 pence age addition for pensioners aged 80 and over is paid with the State Pension. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 9 April that we will be paying a £100 annual lump sum payment to every household where a pensioner reaches the age of 80 (or is over the age of 80) in addition to the 25p, payable as at present.

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the 25p per week pension supplement for those aged 80 or over would be worth on 1 April 2003 had its value kept pace with inflation since it was introduced in 1971. [106253]

Maria Eagle: Information based on indexing the age addition to the Retail Prices Index is shown in the table:

£ per week

	Rate of age addition in 1971	Actual amount of age addition in April 2003	Amount of age addition in April 2003 if indexed to Retail Prices Index
Rates	0.25	0.25	1.95

Notes:

1. Retail Prices Index as published by the Office of National Statistics.

2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating.

Source:

Information Centre, Information and Analysis Directorate

Pensioners (Buckingham)

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to visit the Buckingham constituency to meet pensioners. [107160]

Maria Eagle: My right hon. Friend has no current plans to visit the hon. Member's constituency.

Pensions

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on recent progress in developing asylums to assist people who are unable or unwilling to use PIN pads but who wish to collect their pensions in person at the post office. [108110]

11 Apr 2003 : Column 472W

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is running a national and comprehensive information campaign to give customers the facts they need to make an informed choice about which account option is most appropriate for them. People will be provided with all the information they need on all of their "banking options", including which accounts can be used at post office branches. It will be up to the customers themselves to decide which type of account they wish to have their money paid into.

Those using a bank or building society account who cannot cope with PIN numbers, can use other methods to access their cash—e.g. Cheque book, building society pass book etc.—or arrange for someone else to get their money for them.

Pensions/Benefit Payments

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list telephone services operated by his Department in order to provide advice and services relating to changes in the method of paying pensions and benefits; and if he will place in the Library copies of the scripts used by the people answering the telephones. [107598]

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has a range of telephone services to support the move to Direct Payment as the normal method of paying benefits and pensions.

A Direct Payment Information Line, for those customers who require further detail about the changes being introduced, is now in operation. The purpose of this telephone service is to give customers the opportunity to consider all of the options available to them and make the best choice for their circumstances.

For each of the benefit and pension services, the Department has a dedicated telephone facility to capture customers' choices and record account details. There is a separate, yet similar service, for benefit and pension customers in Northern Ireland.

This is supported by our normal business units, who can also provide information about the changes being made.

An example of the script used when a customer requires more information about the choices available has been placed in the Library.

Post Office Card

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to promote the use of the Post Office card by beneficiaries. [108322]

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's information campaign, to support the move to Direct Payment, provides customers with factual information on the banking options available to them, including information on the Post Office card account. The information is presented in a way that enables customers to decide which account option is best for their individual circumstances.

11 Apr 2003 : Column 473W

Post Office Card Account

Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what discussions he has had with the Disability Rights Commission and disability organisations about the compliance of the PIN pads for the Post Office card account with the provisions of the Disability Act 1995; [108647]

(2) whether guidance on pensions and benefits payments has been revised following experience with access to the PIN pads for Post Office card accounts by disabled people, with particular reference to those with sight problems; [108648]

(3) what requirements relating to access for blind, partially sighted and other disabled people are included in Post Office Limited's contract with the Government to provide the card account system; [108649]

(4) what plans his Department has to monitor the accessibility of the Post Office card account to disabled people as it is introduced. [108651]

Malcolm Wicks: Access to Post Office branches, the Post Office card account and PIN pads are the responsibility of Post Office Limited. We are aware that groups representing disabled and blind/partially sighted customers have raised concerns about the PIN pads that have been installed in Post Offices. The Post Office have acknowledged that they need to make the PIN pad more accessible and user friendly. They have invited the RNIB and other disability groups to work with them. All customers will be given information about all of the account options available and it will be for them to consider which account best meets their needs and circumstances. The Department meets regularly with external interest groups including RNIB, RNID and Disability Alliance to discuss all issues surrounding Direct Payment.

All customers will be given information about all of the account options available and it will be for them to consider which account best meets their needs and circumstances. The Department meets regularly with external interest groups including RNIB, RNID and Disability Alliance to discuss all issues surrounding Direct Payment.

---