§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff(a) from his Department and (b) not from his Department work in each local pension advice surgery. [128743]
§ Malcolm WicksInformation surgeries have been set up in partnership with various organisations to provide a service in locations where customers are most comfortable conducting their business with our staff. We do not have this information in the format requested as the staffing varies from area to area, but the usual arrangement is that one member of local service staff from The Pension Service and one person from the partnering organisation run each surgery session. The218W latest data available shows that there are currently 2,650 weekly surgeries in place with an average session time of 1.5 hours per week. Currently, there are 2,795 (whole time equivalent) field staff employed in The Pension Service local service nationally.
§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pension credit applications to date have elected to pay into(a) post office card accounts, (b) bank accounts and (c) benefit books. [132322]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is not available in the format requested. From November, it will be possible to provide some information on the number of pension credit awards by method of payment. I will write to the hon. Member when the information requested becomes available and place a copy of my letter in the Library. Key figures on the progress of conversion to direct payment (payment into accounts) are placed in the Library and updated every four weeks.
§ Mr. KaufmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what(a) his estimate of the number of residents in the Manchester, Gorton constituency who qualify for pension credit and (b) the number in that constituency who have so far applied for that credit is. [134222]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is not available in the format requested. As at May 2003, the number of Minimum Income Guarantee recipients in Manchester Gorton was around 4,400. These are the latest figures available.
We intend from November to publish monthly reports on the progress of Pension Credit take-on, which will include information on the number of applications.
Notes:
- 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
- 2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
- 3. Government Office Region/Parliamentary Constituency is assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
- 4. MIG recipients are defined as Income Support benefit units where the claimant, and/or partner is aged 60 or over.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample
§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether, when submitting a pension credit claim form, an individual has to provide details of a capital sum expected to be received in future. [134411]
§ Malcolm WicksOn applying for Pension Credit from age 65, pensioners are asked about any changes they expect to their pension income, annuities and capital over the next 12 months. If they expect to receive a lump sum payment during this period, for example, but the amount is not yet known, their award may be fixed for reassessment at the date of the expected change. If a change is expected in more than 12 months, their assessment will be fixed for the full five-year period allowed, during which time any increases in capital will be ignored.
219WPensioners aged 60 and over but under 65 will not have an assessed income period set. This means that changes in circumstances will need to be declared as and when they occur in the same way as was the case under the Minimum Income Guarantee.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are receiving pension credit in(a) Chorley, (b) the North West and (c) the UK. [134441]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is not available in the format requested. As at May 2003, the number of Minimum Income Guarantee recipients in Chorley was around 2700, in the North West was 248,600 and in Great Britain was 1,778,100. These are the latest figures available.
We intend from November to publish monthly reports on the progress of Pension Credit take-on, which will include information on the number of applications.
Notes:
- 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
- 2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
- 3. Government Office Region/Parliamentary Constituency is assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
- 4. MIG recipients are defined as Income Support benefit units where the claimant, and/or partner is aged 60 or over.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample
§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations the Government has received about the collection of a pension by a third party under the direct payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [133355]
§ Mr. Pond[holding answer 27 October 2003]: The Department regularly consults with a range of Specific Interest Groups, including Age Concern, Citizens Advice and Help the Aged to discuss issues surrounding Direct Payment.
We are committed to ensuring that all people have reasonable access to their benefits and pensions, including the collection of benefits and pensions by a third party.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 18 September 2003,Official Report, column 915W, on pension investment, what public education campaigns the Department has undertaken aimed at those aged 25 to 34 about the benefits of property vis-a-vis other savings products. [135037]
§ Malcolm WicksNone.