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7 Feb 2005 : Column 1356W—continued
Pensioners' Benefits
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) recipients of the state pension, (b) individuals eligible for a free television licence, (c) pension credit claimants and (d) recipients of winter fuel payments there were in the Nottingham, North constituency on the latest date for which figures are available. [211007]
Malcolm Wicks: As of 31 March 2004, the number of people in receipt of a state pension in the Nottingham, North constituency was 15,500.
The information for those eligible for a free television licence in the Nottingham, North constituency is not available in the format requested. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment (who would be eligible for a free TV licence) in the Nottingham, North constituency in 2003–04 was 5,330.
As of 31 December 2004, there were 5,655 households, comprising 6,925 individuals, in receipt of pension credit in the Nottingham, North Constituency.
Information on the number of winter fuel payments made in each constituency is available in the Library.
1.The state pension figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
2.The state pension figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.
3.State pension figures is for all people getting a state pension i.e. a category A, B, C or D state pension or graduated retirement benefit.
4.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
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5.Pension credit figures are rounded to the nearest five.
6.Individual recipients of pension credit include a small number of partners under age 60.
IAD Information Centre
Staff Surveys
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of staff surveys in the Department was in each year since 1997. [213671]
Jane Kennedy: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2002. The available information is as follows:
The cost of the departmental staff survey (excluding consultancy costs) was £249,000 in 2002 and £136,000 in 2003. The survey cycle for 2004 is not yet complete, but costs are estimated at £130,000. All surveys have been available to all individuals within the Department, with responses ranging from 74,000 to 77,000 completed questionnaires. Data reports are made available not only at departmental and business level, but for over 500 different operational units, allowing improvement actions to be identified at both national and local levels. Reports detailing the breakdown of demographic data allow monitoring of the effectiveness of diversity and equality policies and targets.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals were in receipt of (a) winter fuel payments and (b) over-80s annual payments in Southend-on-Sea in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii)2000 and (iv) 2004. [213127]
Malcolm Wicks: Winter fuel payments were introduced in the winter of 1997–98. Information on the number of winter fuel payments and 80 plus annual payments made in Southend-on-Sea in each year for which figures are available is in the Library.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will investigate the number of winter fuel payments that have not been received by pensioners in Hendon; and if he will make a statement. [214522]
Malcolm Wicks: Winter fuel payments (WFPs) were issued between 6 November 2004 and 6 December 2004. Data regarding the total number of payments issued for the Hendon area is not available. The Pension Service has received 52 notifications of non-receipt of WFP from customers residing in this area. Of these customers, 38 have received replacement payments and the remaining 14 will have payments issued by 11 February 2005.
Royal Mail have advised that there has been no reported bulk loss in the area.
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Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Stoke-on-Trent have been in receipt of winter fuel payments in each of the last seven years. [213064]
Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of winter fuel payments made in Stoke-on-Trent in each year for which figures are available is in the Library.
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average, (b) shortest and (c) longest time taken to make winter fuel payments between application and payment has been in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland and (iii) each constituency in each of the last six years. [213140]
Malcolm Wicks: Over 11.2 million people entitled to winter fuel payments (approximately 98 per cent.) were paid without having to make a claim. Their payments, with all payments to those who had claimed by 12 November 2004, were sent to them before Christmas as planned. Others, including those who claim before the cut-off date, will be paid in one of the three remaining payment runs which commence in February.
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were eligible for winter fuel payments in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) each constituency in each of the last six years. [213141]
Malcolm Wicks: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of people who were eligible for winter fuel payments. Information on the number of winter fuel payments made in Great Britain, Scotland and each constituency in each year for which figures are available is in the Library. Payments made in Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Northavon constituency (a) were eligible for and (b) received winter fuel payments in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [213506]
Malcolm Wicks: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of households that were eligible for a winter fuel payment. Information on the number of households in Northavon that received a winter fuel payment in winter 2003–04 is in the Library. Information on winter 2004–05 is not yet available but we expect the number to be similar.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend the winter fuel allowance to pensioners paying for residential care home accommodation. [213747]
Malcolm Wicks: Pensioners paying for residential care home accommodation for themselves are eligible for winter fuel payments unless they receive pension credit.