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Pension Credit

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the passported benefits for (a) Guarantee Pensions Credit, (b) Savings Pension Credit and (c) Council Tax Benefit. [142658]

Malcolm Wicks: The principal passported benefits for Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and Pension Credit Savings Credit are in the following table.

Benefit/Scheme	Administration	Department	Passported byPension CreditGuarantee Credit	Passported byPension CreditSavings Credit alone
Assisted Prison Visits	England, Scotland and Wales	Home Office	Yes	No
Court Fees Exemption	England and Wales	Department for Constitutional Affairs	Yes	No
Dental Treatment	England, Scotland and Wales	Department of Health	Yes	No
Discretionary Grant for the Disabled	England	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister	Yes	No
Discretionary Grant for the Disabled	Wales	Welsh Assembly	Yes	No
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme	England	Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs	Yes	Yes
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme	Scotland	Scottish Executive	Yes	Yes
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme	Wales	Welsh Assembly	Yes	Yes
Improvement and Repair Grants	Scotland	Scottish Executive	Yes	No
Milk Tokens for Pregnant partners	England, Scotland and Wales	Department of Health	Yes	No
Optical Vouchers and Sight Tests	England, Scotland and Wales	Department of Health	Yes	No
Seat Belts—no need to pay for medical evidence for exemption	England, Scotland and Wales	Department for Transport	Yes	No

Legal Aid—Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and Pension Credit Savings Credit will be disregarded in the assessment for financial eligibility for Legal Aid.

People who qualify for a guarantee credit only or who qualify for a guarantee credit and a savings credit will generally get help through Housing Benefit towards all of their eligible rent payments, provided these are reasonable, minus deductions for any non-dependants living with them.

People who receive only the savings credit will not be entitled to full Housing Benefit. Instead, the amount of Housing Benefit they receive will depend upon their income (including their savings credit), their personal circumstances and the amount of their eligible rent. However, the personal allowances used in the Housing Benefit calculation have been enhanced to reflect the maximum savings credit figure. This will ensure that people do not lose the gains from the savings credit in the calculation of their Housing Benefit. This enhancement will apply to all Housing Benefit claimants, aged 65 or over, irrespective of whether they are receiving the maximum savings credit or no savings credit.

Welsh further education tuition fee remission policy is at the discretion of the Further Education College. People in receipt of Pension Credit may (subject to the other criteria) be eligible for a payment from the Social Fund.

People in receipt of Pension Credit have access to the Social Fund subject to the criteria which apply to the different types of Social Fund payment available.

Pension Service

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners (a) have requested, (b) have received and (c) are currently on a waiting list to receive a home visit from the Pension Service local service; and what the average waiting time is before a pensioner can expect to receive a visit. [143082]

Malcolm Wicks: The Pension Service is primarily a telephony-based service delivered through a network of pension centres across the UK. However, for a variety of reasons, not all older people are able to conduct their business in this way and require either a home appointment or an appointment at a location convenient to them. These customers are referred to local service. During October 2003 (latest available statistics), 45,925 such customers were referred to local service from pension centres and 43,601 received home appointments.

There are no 'waiting lists'. The standard for local service is that customers will be offered a convenient home or surgery appointment within 10 working days. Latest available statistics show that this standard is being met in 96.1 per cent of cases. Home visits are sometimes postponed by the customer while relevant documents are obtained or to enable a relative to be present.

Timber

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what means the policy for purchasing timber and timber products of (a) the Department, (b) the Appeals Service, (c) the Child Support Agency, (d) JobCentre Plus and (e) the Pension Service ensures that they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources. [141343]

Maria Eagle: The Department's PFI Estates Partner—Land Securities Trillium—supplies the majority of timber products for the Department and all its executive agencies. They were made aware of the requirement to purchase timber from legal and

10 Dec 2003 : Column 475W

sustainable sources in September 2000, by e-mail and during the regular progress meetings that are held between the Department and Land Securities Trillium.

Land Securities Trillium provide an annual report to the Department, giving information on all their suppliers, the type of timber product supplied and details of all supporting verification. This report is then subject to independent verification.

The roll out of the new Jobcentre Plus service means that there are some contracts for refurbishment of sites that are being let outside of the Department's main PFI estates contract. Details of the model contract specification were circulated to the relevant procurement team. A requirement for evidence of the sustainability of timber was included within all contracts. The Department is currently reviewing what evidence has been supplied to date.

Winter Fuel Allowance

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are being taken to encourage men aged between 60 and 65 to apply for the winter fuel allowance for the 2003–04 winter. [142833]

Malcolm Wicks: Each year, we are able to identify most men who are likely to become newly eligible for a winter fuel payment using current departmental records and they are sent claim forms automatically with an invitation to make a claim.

An extensive publicity campaign is carried out from June each year and continues throughout the year. The campaign includes: advertisements in national and local press; a leaflet and poster made available in a variety of venues, a dedicated Winter Fuel Payment Helpline and information on the internet.

Where a person needs to claim, it is up to them whether they do so. They have until 30 March 2004 to make their claim for this winter.

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets have been set for the number of men aged between 60 and 65 to apply for the 2003–04 Winter Fuel Allowance. [142834]

Malcolm Wicks: We expect all those entitled who are not paid automatically, including men aged between 60 and 64, to claim their entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments. In order to achieve full take up we issue claim forms to all those in the target group and publicise the availability of Winter Fuel Payments.

So far 172,790 claim forms have been issued to men aged 60–64 for this winter. All those who need to claim have until 30 March 2004 to do so.

Note:

1. Figures rounded to the nearest five.

2. Information to identify those likely to be entitled was extracted from the Departmental Central Index based on post codes.

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to revise the qualifying week for winter fuel payments; [142835]

(2) for what reason his Department chose 21 September as the final qualifying date for the 2003–04 winter fuel payment. [142836]

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Malcolm Wicks: There are no current plans to change the winter fuel payment qualifying week.

The qualifying week is set in legislation for the third week in September to enable the Department to establish the correct amount of winter fuel payment and make automatic payments to the vast majority of those entitled at the time the payment is most needed.

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003 in the Perth constituency; and how many claim forms have been submitted. [142654]

Malcolm Wicks: The number of winter fuel payment claim forms issued so far this year to people who are likely to become eligible for a winter fuel payment in the Perth constituency is 696, and of those 446 have been returned.

We are publicising the availability of winter fuel payments and how to obtain a claim form. Those who need to claim for this winter have until 30 March 2004 to do so.

Note:

Information to identify those likely to be entitled was extracted from the Departmental Central Index based on postcodes.

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Winter Fuel Payment claim forms have been issued in 2003 in (a) Merseyside and (b) St. Helens; and how many claim forms have been submitted. [142716]

Malcolm Wicks: The number of Winter Fuel Payment claim forms issued so far this year to people who are likely to become eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment in Merseyside is 31,005, and of those 20,698 have been returned.

The number of Winter Fuel Payment claim forms issued so far this year to people who are likely to become eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment in St. Helens is 2,133, and of those 1,547 have been returned.

We are publicising the availability of Winter Fuel Payments and how to obtain a claim form. Those who need to claim for this winter have until 30 March 2004 to do so.

Note:

Information to identify those likely to be entitled was extracted from the Departmental Central Index based on post codes.

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