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Pensions

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government are taking to reduce the inequality in pensions between men and women at the point of retirement. [26544]

Mr. Timms: Pension credit has helped to reduce the number of pensioners living in absolute low income, with 1.3 million female pensioners lifted above absolute low income since 1997. Two-thirds of the 3.3 million people benefiting from pension credit are women. Future women pensioners will also benefit from the
 
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introduction of state second pension, with 6 million more women building up additional state pension than did under SERPS.

The introduction of Home Responsibilities Protection in 1978, together with women's increased labour market activity, mean that women are building up better pension records. In 2005, 30 per cent. of women reaching state pension age are entitled to a full basic state pension. Without any policy changes, this will rise to 50 per cent. by 2010 and over 80 per cent. by 2025. By 2025, women and men will have similar basic state pension entitlements. The average entitlement will be over 90 per cent. of a full basic state pension for both men and women.

Women's increased labour market activity also means that more women are generating their own income, which can be invested in a private pension. Future women pensioners will retire with higher state and private pension incomes in their own right. However, the main driver in the difference between women's and men's retirement incomes is the difference in women's and men's private pension provision.

The report Women and pensions: The evidence", published by the Department on 2 November 2005, examines the evolution of women's pensions and explores the reasons for the differences between men's
 
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and women's pension entitlements. The issue of women's pensions is central to the National Pensions Debate and the report provides a firm basis on which to build consensus on the way forward to achieve fair outcomes for women. The report also raises further questions for consideration alongside the work of the Pensions Commission.

Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) children and (b) pensioners were living in poverty in the Vale of Clwyd in each of the last 20 years. [20321]

Margaret Hodge: Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2003–04", available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.

The data source does not allow us to provide robust estimates for Vale of Clwyd. Estimates for Wales have been provided using data from 1994–95 to 2003–04.

The number and proportion of children in households with low incomes in Wales over the period 1994–95 to 2003–04, are presented in the following table. Data on a regional level is not available prior to 1994–95.

	Three-year rolling averages
	1994–95 to 1996–97	1995–96 to 1997–98	1996–97 to 1998–99	1997–98 to 1999–2000	1998–99 to 2000–01	1999–2000 to 2001–02	2000–01 to 2002–03	2001–02 to 2003–04
Before housing costs
Number of children (million)	0.18	0.19	0.18	0.18	0.18	0.17	0.16	0.15
Percentage of all children	28	28	28	28	27	25	25	23
After housing costs
Number of children (million)	0.23	0.23	0.23	0.23	0.23	0.21	0.20	0.19
Percentage of all children	35	36	34	35	34	33	32	29

Source:
Family Resources Survey

The number and proportion of pensioners in households with low incomes in Wales over the period 1994–95 to 2003–04, are presented in the following table:

	Three-year rolling averages
	1994–95 to 1996–97	1995–96 to 1997–98	1996–97 to 1998–99	1997–98 to 1999–2000	1998–99 to 2000–01	1999–2000 to 2001–02	2000–01 to 2002–03	2001- 02 to 2003–04
Before housing costs
Number of pensioners (million)	0.14	0.13	0.13	0.14	0.14	0.13	0.12	0.13
Percentage of all pensioners	24	24	24	25	24	23	22	23
After housing costs
Number of pensioners (million)	0.14	0.14	0.14	0.14	0.13	0.13	0.12	0.12
Percentage of all pensioners	24	25	25	25	24	23	21	21

Note:
1. Figures are provided using a three-year rolled average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year on year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. In circumstances such as a change in trend, rolled-averages will show less variation than single year estimates.
Source:
Family Resources Survey
2. Tables show the number of children/pensioners in millions rounded to the nearest 10 thousand, and percentages to the nearest percentage point.
3. In this answer low income is determined for individuals as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the GB median.

Regeneration (Burslem)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Department's contribution to economic regeneration in Burslem. [21834]

Margaret Hodge: Since 1997, in the Stoke-on-Trent, North constituency, the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance has fallen by 24 per cent. and long term unemployment by 78 per cent. The New Deal has helped 2,010 people in to work, including 810 in Burslem.
 
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Jobcentre Plus is an active member of the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone working groups. The Regeneration Zone arrangement in Staffordshire is one of the delivery mechanisms funded by the regional development agency (RDA), Advantage West Midlands (AWM), through its Regional Economic Strategy. We have contributed to the Zone Implementation Plan (ZIP) on areas such as tackling worklessness, upskilling and work force development.

A range of projects, instigated by the Regeneration Zone and actively supported by Jobcentre Plus, have been designed to have a positive impact on the economic regeneration of the Burslem area:

Construction College, Burslem: This is due to open soon as a centre of excellence for construction skills. Jobcentre Plus will look to utilise the facilities to train unemployed adults in construction skills to enable them to take advantage of the new jobs arising out of the Housing Market Renewal funding, much of which is in the Burslem area;

CATU project: This is part funded by the Regeneration Zone and supported by Jobcentre Plus. This project is in place to help redundant workers, mainly from the pottery industry, back to work. The project management work closely with Jobcentre Plus to ensure redundant workers receive full support;

Early Entry to Work Based Learning: This is designed to help recently redundant workers to start up in business, supported by Jobcentre Plus and is available to residents in the Burslem area;

Enterprise Centre phase 2 in Burslem: This is a project funded by the Regeneration Zone and supported by Jobcentre Plus to encourage Small and Medium Employer (SME) development in Burslem.

LAA (Local Area Agreements): Jobcentre Plus is currently working closely with the Regeneration Zone on submitting Growth Initiative proposals around projects to help disadvantaged groups across the city of Stoke on Trent, including Burslem. This will include ideas similar to and based on the Working Neighbourhoods Project operated by Jobcentre Plus.

Neighbourhood Renewal: Jobcentre Plus has also contributed to and worked closely with a number of initiatives across Stoke on Trent that are also active in Burslem and funded by Neighbourhood Renewal monies etc. These include:

LEAP (Learning and Employment Action Plan) project: This is an initiative to support and train workless groups across the city of Stoke on Trent, concentrating in deprived wards such as Burslem, using mentors etc. to help individuals who have been out of work for many years back into the labour market. Jobcentre Plus worked on the design and is giving ongoing support to the project;

STACE (Skills, Training and Community Employment): Jobcentre Plus helped to design and develop this project that looks to help the hardest to help groups, such as clients claiming incapacity benefit, back into work. This project is a project across the city of Stoke on Trent;

Housing Market Renewal in Burslem: Jobcentre Plus is an active member of various construction skills steering groups that have a particular focus on the disadvantaged and are looking to upskill the local work force. This then enables them to take advantage of the growth in construction employment that will arise from Housing Market Renewal. As Burslem is seen as a Heritage Area, the majority of the Regeneration Zone activity relates to capital projects which will improve the area and thus encourage more inward investment that will bring employment to the area.

 
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Connexions: There is currently an adviser based within Burslem Jobcentre at least one day each week offering help to customers with interview skills and the construction of CVs. Additionally, the Environmental Task Force option is available to New Deal customers. This is primarily placement work carrying out, for example, general repairs to canals, labouring and reclamation work. The provider is called Groundwork.

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