§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in(a) Somerset and (b) Yeovil constituency who are entitled to, but not receiving, (i) income support, (ii) housing benefit and (iii) council tax benefit; how much money in each case is unclaimed; and if he will make a statement. [104711]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is not available. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of numbers not claiming their entitlement at constituency level.
§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners there are in(a) Somerset, (b) South Somerset and (c) Yeovil constituency; and what is the age distribution of such pensioners, indicating the total number aged 80 years or over in each of those areas. [104719]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.
Mid-1998 estimates of the number of people of pensionable age Age Somerset South Somerset 60–64 (women) 13,000 3,900 65–69 25,100 7,700 70–74 23,600 7,400 75–79 20,700 6,600 80–84 12,800 4,100 85 plus 12,400 3,800 Total 107,700 33,400
1991 Census information of the number of people of pensionable age Age Yeovil Pensionable age to 74 12,200 75–84 6,200 85 and over 1,600 Total 20,000 Notes:
1. Mid-1998 population estimates of the number of people of pensionable age in Somerset and South Somerset are the latest available.
2. Mid-year population estimates are not compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for parliamentary constituencies. The lowest level at which population estimates are available is the local authority level. 1991 Census information has therefore been used to answer part (c).
3. The number of people of pensionable age is not necessarily the same as the number of pensioners.
4. 'Pensionable age' represents males aged 65 and over and females aged 60 and over.
5. Population estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred persons throughout. Age groups have been rounded independently and may not sum to the totals shown.
570W
§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to improve the take-up by pensioners of(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit; and if he will make a statement. [104712]
§ Mr. RookerAn announcement of our plans to encourage pensioners to take-up their entitlement to benefits will be made shortly.
§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of developing a pensioner prices index; and if he will make a statement. [104713]
§ Mr. RookerThe Office for National Statistics publish a Pensioner Price Index which reflects the spending patterns of pensioners in the lowest three income deciles. The Index shows that over the last 20 years the rate of price inflation for this group of pensioners is significantly below that of other groups and, if used as a basis for uprating, basic Retirement Pension would be £12.30 lower than it is now. Therefore we have no plans to adopt the Pensioner Price Index as part of the annual review of benefit levels.