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26 May 2004 : Column 1717W—continued
National Insurance
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the expenditure on national insurance rebates for those contracted out of SERPS or the second state pension in each year from 1996–97 to 2005–06. [175108]
Malcolm Wicks:
The information is in the table.
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| Tax year | Estimated rebate cost (£ billion) |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 6.9 |
| 1997–98 | 7.6 |
| 1998–99 | 7.8 |
| 1999–2000 | 8.3 |
| 2000–01 | 9.1 |
| 2001–02 | 9.5 |
| 2002–03 | 11.1 |
| 2003–04 | 11.5 |
| 2004–05 | 11.9 |
| 2005–06 | 11.9 |
Note:
Figures are for Great Britain and are in cash terms except for 2005–06 which is in 2004–05 prices. They are consistent with the long-term Public Expenditure Survey undertaken in February 2004.
Source:
Government Actuary's Department
Pension Credit
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of (a) pensioner households and (b) individual pensioners eligible for pension credit (i) this year and (ii) in each of the next 10 years. [175109]
Malcolm Wicks: Estimates of the numbers of people eligible for pension credit, based on data from the Family Resources Survey for 2002–03, will be available early in June. The information will be placed in the Library.
Pensioner Poverty
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what total Government financial support to the poorest 10 per cent. of pensioners was in each of the last 30 years, expressed at today's prices. [175014]
Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested as information on spending on pensioners by decile directly is not recorded.
However latest Households Below Average Income (HBAI) figures show that we have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Two thirds fewer pensioners—1.8 million older people—were in absolute low income in 2002–03 compared with 1996–97.
Our strategy is to seek to maintain and support the major contribution made by the private pension sector in enabling pensioners to share in increased economic well being, and to target state resources on improving the position of the poorest relative to rising national prosperity. Since the introduction of pension credit the poorest third of pensioner households will be £1,750 a year (£33 per week) better off in 2004–05, compared with the 1997 system.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the poorest third of pensioners received in each year since 1998; and what that sum would have been in each year had the State Pension been linked to earnings. [175131]
Malcolm Wicks:
The information is not available in the format requested.
26 May 2004 : Column 1719W
In 1997–98, pensioners in the lowest third of the pensioner income distribution received an average of £102.12 per week in state benefits. In 2002–03 they received an average of £134.38.
Including private income, these pensioners received £104.81 in 1997–98, £139.73 in 2002–03.
If the basic State Pension had been linked to earnings since April 1998, on top of policies introduced since 1997 (including pension credit), these pensioners would have received an extra £2.10 a week overall on average in 2003–04. If the earnings link had been in place instead of the policies that were in fact introduced they would have lost on average £22.90.
All figures are in cash terms.
Seasonal Fruit Pickers
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what monitoring takes place to ensure the health and safety of seasonal fruit pickers. [175443]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 24 May 2004]: Seasonal fruit pickers may be exposed to a range of hazards at fruit and vegetable production and packing sites including: transport; machinery; manual handling; noise; slips, trips and falls; and dermatitis. These hazards are common to full and part time workers, including casual or seasonal workers. Health and safety law applies equally to all employees.
Inspectors from HSE's Field Operations Directorate monitor health and safety in agriculture in line with HSE's Agriculture Sector Strategic Programme. Informed by local knowledge and intelligence this is discharged in practice by a range of inspection activities including planned, targeted preventive (proactive) inspection, health and safety blitzes, projects targeted at specific sectors or topics, and the investigation of reported accidents and complaints.
Spelthorne Borough Council
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much administration grant was paid to Spelthorne borough council in 2003–04 to cover the
26 May 2004 : Column 1720W
cost of operating the council tax benefit scheme; and what proportion of the council's costs this grant covered. [175547]
Mr. Pond: Spelthorne borough council was paid £144,762 specifically for council tax benefit administration costs in 2003–04. However, this does not include the extra funding for administering this scheme that has arisen due to the increase caseloads following the introduction of the new tax credit and pension credit schemes. The grant is not ring-fenced, but is a targeted grant and represents just one part of Spelthorne's total housing and council tax benefits administration subsidy funding.
The total housing and council tax benefits administration grant paid to Spelthorne borough council for 2003–04 was £509,893; it is for the local authority to decide how much it apportions between the administration of the two benefits.
Spelthorne borough council report that the estimated cost of administering council tax benefit for 2003–04 was £307,000; however, final figures are in the process of being collected.
In addition to the administration grant, a further £56,566 has been paid through the Security Against Fraud and Error (SAFE) scheme. This covers the first three quarters of 2003–04. The final quarter is yet to be finalised; a further payment will be made accordingly.
Winter Fuel Allowance
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the additional £100 being paid to over 70s in Northern Ireland will be included in the winter fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement. [175193]
Malcolm Wicks: The intention is that the one-off 70+ payment to eligible households will be included with the 2004–05 winter fuel payment which is paid automatically to the vast majority of those entitled to it. People in Northern Ireland who do not get a winter fuel payment will need to claim the one-off payment from the Department for Social Development before 31 March 2005.