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26 Nov 2008 : Column 2012W—continued


26 Nov 2008 : Column 2013W

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
£

November 2003

15.01

May 2004

14.09

May 2005

17.11

May 2006

17.98

May 2007

20.84

May 2008

22.24

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

April

2.4

May

2.4

June

2.5

July

2.9

August

3.0

September

2.7

Total to date

15.9

Note:
Rounded to the nearest decimal point

(b) Pension credit recovered each year from 2003-04 to 2007-08:

£ million

2003-04

0.14

2004-05

2.8

2005-06

2.9

2006-07

20.6

2007-08

30.0

Note:
Rounded to the nearest decimal point

26 Nov 2008 : Column 2014W

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.


26 Nov 2008 : Column 2015W
Household recipients of pension credit in parliamentary constituencies in Wales: November 2003 to May 2005
Constituency November 2003 May 2004 May 2005

Aberavon

3,330

4,030

4,380

Alyn and Deeside

2,470

3,050

3,360

Blaenau Gwent

3,800

4,430

4,740

Brecon and Radnorshire

2,310

2,910

3,110

Bridgend

2,920

3,540

3,790

Caernarfon

3,060

3,550

3,760

Caerphilly

3,560

4,280

4,720

Cardiff Central

2,050

2,340

2,490

Cardiff North

2,110

2,520

2,770

Cardiff South and Penarth

4,310

4,860

5,260

Cardiff West

3,510

4,030

4,340

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

2,800

3,410

3,770

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

2,940

3,680

4,040

Ceredigion

2,370

2,990

3,270

Clwyd South

3,020

3,630

3,880

Clwyd West

3,320

4,010

4,370

Conwy

3,000

3,530

3,840

Cynon Valley

2,990

3,620

3,970

Delyn

2,680

3,230

3,470

Gower

2,760

3,280

3,520

Islwyn

2,800

3,390

3,720

Llanelli

4,170

4,890

5,250

Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

1,750

2,180

2,390

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

3,440

4,150

4,520

Monmouth

2,480

3,020

3,340

Montgomeryshire

1,940

2,440

2,680

Neath

3,270

4,070

4,410

Newport East

2,570

3,190

3,530

Newport West

3,350

3,940

4,280

Ogmore

2,880

3,550

3,890

Pontypridd

3,190

3,840

4,270

Preseli Pembrokeshire

2,750

3,540

3,910

Rhondda

4,130

4,910

5,360

Swansea East

3,700

4,290

4,620

Swansea West

3,740

4,300

4,530

Torfaen

3,620

4,270

4,590

Vale of Clwyd

3,800

4,400

4,740

Vale of Glamorgan

3,030

3,510

3,900

Wrexham

2,870

3,380

3,580

Ynys Mon

3,100

3,730

4,010

Total

121,890

145,900

158,370


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