HC Deb 08 December 1988 vol 143 cc320-1W
Mr. Roy Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many repossession orders there have been in(a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales since the housing benefit changes last April; and how many there were in 1987;

(2) how many cases of homelessness there have been in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales since the housing benefit changes last April; and how many there were in 1987;

(3) how many cases of eviction there have been in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales since the housing benefit changes last April; and how many there were in 1987.

Mr. Ian Grist

Information on homelessness resulting from eviction and repossession in 1987 is given in the following table. Statistics for the period following the housing benefit changes are not yet available.

number in countries where annual increments apply and (c) the number in countries where annual increments do not apply.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I refer my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend's reply to him on 19 May 1988 at columns551-54. More up to date figures are not available.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average income of those 75 years of age and over; and what is the real term increase in the incomes of those aged 75 years and over since 1979.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

In 1986 the average net income of those aged 75 and over was £78.08. This represents a 26.9 per cent. real increase since 1979.Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1986.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) at what level of income the earnings rule has operated in respect of retirement pensions in each year from 1984–85 to the present date;

(2) if he will list the value of the earnings rule for retirement pensions as a percentage of (i) gross and (ii) net average earning for each year since 1984.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The information requested is as follows:

Average weekly earnings of all male manual workers1 Earnings rule as a percentage of gross and net earnings
Uprating dates Earnings rule Single person Married couple Single person Married couple
gross net gross net gross net gross net
£ £ £ £ £ percent. percent. percent. percent.
November 1984 70.00 159.60 108.90 159.60 115.50 43.9 64.3 43.9 60.6
November 1985 75.00 168.70 115.60 168.70 122.80 44.5 64.9 44.5 61.1
July 1986 75.00 176.70 122.60 176.70 129.90 42.4 61.2 42.4 57.7
April 1987 75.00 185.50 131.30 185.50 138.40 40.4 57.1 40.4 54.2
April 1988 75.00 200.60 144.90 200.60 152.10 37.4 51.8 37.4 49.3
1Estimates of average weekly earnings for full-time employees, seasonally adjusted.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to improve the arrangements for payment to pensioners on income support of assistance for fuel costs during the winter months.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

General help with fuel costs is provided within income support allowances. The income support premiums target extra help to vulnerable groups including pensioners.

In addition, the social fund cold weather payments scheme provides help with extra heating costs incurred when the weather is particularly cold. A number of improvements to this scheme have already been announced which will increase the number of payments which can be made.