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26 Nov 2008 : Column 2012W—continued
The average weekly additional amount for housing costs included in Pension Credit assessments is shown in the following table. This does not equate to a payment of Pension Credit, rather it reflects the average amount by which people's appropriate minimum guarantee has been increased to take account of relevant housing costs.
| Average Weekly Amount of Housing Costs | |
| £ | |
| Note: 1. Average amounts are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. Source: DWP Information Directorate five per cent sample. | |
Pension Credit: Mortgages
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people over working age with fixed rate mortgages and in receipt of pension credit who will fall into mortgage arrears in the next 12 months following reductions in the standard interest rate component of their benefit. [238340]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This information is not available.
Pension Credit: Overpayments
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much in overpaid pension credits was recovered by his Department in each (a) month of 2008-09 to date and (b) year from 2003-04 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement. [230484]
Mr. McNulty: (a) Pension Credit recovered each month 2008-09 to date:
| £ million | |
| Note: Rounded to the nearest decimal point | |
(b) Pension credit recovered each year from 2003-04 to 2007-08:
| £ million | |
| Note: Rounded to the nearest decimal point | |
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average amount per case of overpaid pension credits was clawed back by his Department in (a) each month of 2008-09 and (b) each of the last five financial years; and if he will make a statement. [231028]
Mr. McNulty: It is not possible to provide information in the format requested as some overpayments are paid back by lump sum. Where a customer repays an overpayment by weekly deductions from their pension credit, regulations limit the amount that can be deducted to a maximum of £9.15, and £12 in fraud related cases.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average amount per case of overpaid pension credits was clawed back by his Department per case taken to court over repayment in (a) each month of 2008-09 and (b) each of the last five financial years; and if he will make a statement. [231030]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Information is not available on the amount recovered in pension credit cases where civil enforcement action has been taken.
It is not normal practice to pursue enforcement of an overpayment through civil proceedings where a customer is in receipt of benefit. Typically people over pension age would be in receipt of benefit from which compulsory deductions can be taken to repay an overpayment.
Where the customer is in receipt of benefit, deductions from benefit will be arranged compulsorily to recover an outstanding debt.
In the exceptional circumstances, where a person is no longer in receipt of benefit we would normally seek an agreement to pay by instalments. If no such agreement can be reached, then only as a last resort would civil proceedings be considered.
Pension Credit: Wales
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in each constituency in Wales claimed pension credit in each year since it was introduced. [238634]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is in the following tables.
| Household recipients of pension credit in parliamentary constituencies in Wales: November 2003 to May 2005 | |||
| Constituency | November 2003 | May 2004 | May 2005 |
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