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24 May 2004 : Column 1474W—continued
ME
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many ME sufferers appealed after their initial claims for disability living allowance were rejected in the last 12 months; and how many of these were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in their appeals. [171341]
Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will reply to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Christina Townsend to John Robertson, dated 24 May 2004:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the number of ME sufferers that appealed after their initial claims for disability living allowance were rejected in the last 12 months; and how many were successful or unsuccessful in their appeals.
The information is not available in the format requested.
I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.
Leroy Keen
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will investigate why it took two years to conclude that Mr. Leroy Keen of Paignton had been overpaid by £119.55 in income support. [173431]
Mr. Pond [holding answer 18 May 2004]: Details of benefit claims are confidential and I will write to the hon. Member.
This is in line with Part 2, paragraph 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
New Deal
David Davis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many young people in the East Riding of Yorkshire he estimates have gained sustained employment through the New Deal who would not otherwise have done so; [171789]
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(2) what the cost of the New Deal in the East Riding of Yorkshire has been since its inception. [171790]
Jane Kennedy: The New Deal for Young People has been successful in helping 2,570 young people in the East Riding Local Authority area into work, 2,090 of which have gained sustained employment.
Information on how many of these young people would not have gained sustained employment without New Deal intervention is not available. However, research by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) found that long term unemployment would have been twice as high without New Deal for Young People and that a large number of young people left unemployment quicker than they would have done without New Deal.
Information on the cost of New Deal in the East Riding of Yorkshire is not available.
State Pension
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the average wage the state pension is in the UK; and what the figure is for each member state of the European Union. [155467]
Mr. Pond: The average State Pension payment to all recently retired pensioners is 20 per cent. of average earnings.
The comparable figure is not available for EU member states because most EU countries have earnings related State Pensions schemes. The amount of State Pension will therefore vary according to the individual earnings during their working life.
Notes:
1. State Pension is the maximum rate of basic State Pension plus the average amount of additional pension in payment based on March 2003 data for recently retired pensioners (men 65, women 60). 2. Average earnings is the mean weekly earnings at April 2003 of £475.80. 3. The 20 per cent. figure has been rounded to the nearest percentage point.
Pension Credit
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Hull, North are eligible for pension credit; and what the take-up rate is. [174792]
Malcolm Wicks:
The minimum income guarantee (MIG) was replaced by pension credit on 6 October 2003. Those who were receiving MIG immediately prior to that date were transferred automatically to pension
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credit. Information on the number of people who are eligible for pension credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies. However, we estimate that approximately 350,000 pensioner households in the Yorkshire and Humberside Government office region (rounded to the nearest 50,000) are eligible for pension credit. This estimate is based on data from the Family Resources Survey for 2001–02. A revised estimate, based on data from the Family Resources Survey for 2002–03, will be available early in June.
The number of recipients of MIG and pension credit in Hull, North in October 2003 and April 2004 respectively is shown in the table.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Minimum income guarantee (3 October 2003) | |
| Households | 3,425 |
| Individuals | 4,100 |
| Pension credit (30 April 2004) | |
| Households | 4,485 |
| Individuals | 5,565 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
2. Figures for individuals include a small number of partners under age 60.
Vulnerable Customers (Cheque Payment)
Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his written statement of 11 May 2004, Official Report, columns 6–7WS, on vulnerable customers (payments by cheque), at what point the (a) Pension Service, (b) Jobcentre and (c) Disability Benefits Office will accept that a vulnerable customer's payment by cheque is late or lost; and whether a vulnerable customer, if they have not received any post on the day payment is due, will be able to contact their Pension Office and receive an emergency payment that day. [174245]
Mr. Pond: We will ensure that people get the money they are entitled to. Where a cheque payment does not arrive by the due payday, the customer should initially contact the office which normally pays their benefit or pension. Arrangements for replacement payments will vary depending upon the individual circumstances and needs of each customer.
Paying by cheque is a well-established method of payment that the Department has used successfully since 1968. We already have procedures in place for dealing with missing payments. We will ensure they continue to meet the needs of those customers paid by cheque.