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26 Jan 2004 : Column 103W—continued
Occupational Pension Schemes
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has issued to (a) the trustees and (b) the administrators of occupational pension schemes where, on winding-up, the remaining assets of the scheme are insufficient to cover SERPS liabilities for some members. [148977]
Malcolm Wicks: Section 74 of the Pensions Act 1995 sets out the provisions on overriding scheme rules so as to enable the trustees of a scheme to discharge their liabilities to members for pensions and other benefits even if the those pensions and benefits are not fully secured. When an occupational pension scheme is winding up, it ceases to contract-out and its trustees must secure members contracted-out rights.
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The Inland Revenue manual CA15 (Cessation of Contracted-out Pension Schemes) contains guidance on securing contracted-out rights. CA15 is available via the Inland Revenue website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk. Inland Revenue writes to scheme administrators making them aware of the guidance once the scheme has ceased to contract-out. Also, when they are informed that a scheme is no longer contracted-out, the Inland Revenue sends form CA7992 to scheme trustees. This gives general guidelines on securing the liabilities, and the options that are available.
No guidance has been issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on this subject.
Pension Credit
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners from (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Dumfries have received pension credit since its introduction. [145684]
Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is given in the table based on numbers of pension credit recipients in Great Britain, Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway.
| Numbers of pension credit recipients | Percentage of population aged 60 and over (percentage) | |
|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 2,533,960 | 21.1 |
| Scotland | 263,290 | 24.5 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 8,615 | 22.5 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.
2. Percentages have been calculated using the ONS population estimates for mid 2002.
3. Figures for recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the overall sum paid to pensioners under the pension credit scheme is to date in (a) England, (b) Cambridgeshire and (c) Huntingdon. [149686]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. The information that is available is as follows.
The latest departmental information suggests that between 1 October 2003 and 30 November 2003:
- An estimated £688 million was spent on Pension Credit in England;
- An estimated £5.0 million was spent on Pension Credit in Cambridgeshire;
- An estimated £0.7 million was spent on Pension Credit in Huntingdon.
- Notes:
- 1. Pension Credit was introduced on 6 October 2003, therefore this figure includes 5 days of expenditure on the Minimum Income Guarantee (the benefit Pension Credit replaces).
- 2. This figure is based on total expenditure on Pension Credit in Great Britain (GB) from the departmental Programme Accounting Computer System (PACS) data. The country, county and constituency level expenditure is estimated using 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (GMS) data.
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- 3. The estimate for England has been rounded to the nearest million pounds.
- 4. The estimates for Cambridgeshire and Huntingdon have been rounded to the nearest £100,000.
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people resident in (a) the constituency of Huntingdon and (b) Cambridgeshire have received pension credit since its introduction; [149687]
- (2) how many people resident in (a) the constituency of Huntingdon and (b) Cambridgeshire have applied for pension credit since its introduction. [149688]
Malcolm Wicks: At 31 December 2003 there were (a) 2,018 pensioner households (2,397 individuals) in the Huntingdon constituency and (b) 12,974 pensioner households (15,474 individuals) in Cambridgeshire receiving pension credit. Information on the number of people who have applied for pension credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies or counties.
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners in the constituency of Huntingdon have received letters setting out their rights under the pension credit scheme. [149689]
Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of people in individual constituencies who have received a letter about pension credit is not available.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people have claimed pension credit in Brent, East since it was introduced; [149908]
- (2) how many people are entitled to claim pension credit in Brent, East. [149909]
Malcolm Wicks: At 31 December 2003 there were 3,205 pensioner households (3,786 individuals) in the Brent, East constituency receiving pension credit. Information on the number of people who have applied for or are eligible for pension credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies. However, we estimate that approximately 450,000 pensioner households in the London region are eligible for pension credit.
Pensions
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) number and (b) percentage of working age people contributing to a non-state pension scheme. [150452]
Malcolm Wicks: The number of working age people currently contributing to a non-state pension scheme is 11.7 million.
The percentage of working age people currently contributing to a non-state pension scheme is 36 per cent.
- Source:
- Family Resources Survey 2002–03.
- Notes:
- 1. Those who are 'contributing' are members of a non-state pension schemes who are themselves currently contributing to the scheme.
- 2. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). 2002–03 is the latest year for which data is available. The coverage of the Survey is the UK.
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- 3. Non-state pension refers to either an occupational pension or personal pension
- 4. Stakeholder pensions are included as personal pensions in the estimates.
- 5. Working age has been defined as 20–59 for women and 20–64 for men.
- 6. Some individuals may contribute to both an occupational and a personal pension scheme but there are no overlaps. The figures include those contributing to either an occupational pension or a personal pension.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) number and (b) percentage of working age people accumulating rights in a non-state pension scheme. [150453]
Malcolm Wicks: The number of working age people who are currently accumulating rights to a non-state pension scheme is 14.5 million
The percentage of working age people who are currently accumulating rights to a non-state pension scheme is 44 per cent.
- Source:
- Family Resources Survey 2002–03.
- Notes:
- 1. Those 'accumulating rights' includes those who are members of a non-state pension with either themselves or their employer currently contributing. The figures do not include 'deferred' pension rights as neither themselves nor their employer are currently contributing.
- 2. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). 2002–03 is the latest year for which data is available. The coverage of the Survey is the UK.
- 3. Non-state pension refers to either an occupational pension or personal pension
- 4. Stakeholder pensions are included as personal pensions in the estimates.
- 5. Working age has been defined as 20–59 for women and 20–64 for men.
- 6. Some individuals may contribute to both an occupational and a personal pension scheme but there are no overlaps. The figures include those contributing to either an occupational pension or a personal pension.
Post Office Card Accounts
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements he has made for wheelchair users who cannot use their hands to collect benefits and pensions at post offices when using the new PIN card system. [150786]
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements his Department has made to help partially sighted clients with post office card accounts, who have difficulty in using a PIN number, but do not wish to nominate another person to collect their money for them, to obtain their payments from the post office branch. [150998]
Mr. Pond: Our information campaign has an important role to play in the way we take customers through the changes, including collecting their money from their account at the post office if they wish. Customers will be supplied with information, which clearly sets out their 'account options' and enables them to freely choose the best account to suit their circumstances.
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For some people, a card-based account may not be the most suitable option and they may prefer to use an account with a cheque book or building society pass book. If post office access is a priority, people in these circumstances can choose one of the accounts that are accessible at post office branches.
The Post Office is working to ensure its services are as accessible to as many customers as possible and is planning to make adjustments to the PIN pads installed in Post Office branches.
We have always recognised that there will be some people, such as those who cannot open or manage any sort of account that we cannot pay by Direct Payment. In consultation with a range of bodies representing those affected, we are developing an exceptions method
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of payment to meet the needs of people in these circumstances, which will be accessible at Post Office branches.
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