HC Deb 06 May 2004 vol 420 cc1787-8W
Mr. Neil Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many senior citizens in Wigan have benefited from the winter fuel allowance since 1997. [169313]

Malcolm Wicks

The number of senior citizens in the Wigan constituency who benefited from a winter fuel payment in each year since 1999–2000 (including provisional figures for 2003–04) is in the table. Information relating to the 1997–98 and 1998–99 winters is not available.

Payments made
1999–2000 14,650
2000–2001 16,665
2001–2002 16,780
2002–2003 16,820
2003–2004 16,990
Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.
2. Please note that the figures for 2003–04 refer only to the main payment run i.e. they do not include the late payment run figures. We estimate that there are approximately 100,000 people in Great Britain paid via late payment runs (0.8 per cent. of all payments). However, since late payment runs are mainly in respect of non-system cases whose claim had not been received by Qualifying Week, they are heavily skewed towards men aged 60.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. samples.

Mr. Hendrick

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many senior citizens in Preston have benefited from the winter fuel allowance since 1997. [169726]

Malcolm Wicks

The number of senior citizens in the Preston constituency who have benefited from the winter fuel payment in each year since 1999–2000 (including provisional figures for 2003–04) is in the table. Information relating to the 1997–98 and 1998–99 winters is not available.

Payments made
1999–2000 15,375
2000–01 16,830
2001–02 16,735

Payments made
2002–03 16,570
2003–04 16,425
Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.
2. Please note that the figures for 2003–04 refer only to the main payment run i.e. they do not include the late payment run figures. We estimate that there are approximately 100,000 people in Great Britain paid via late payment runs (0.8 per cent. of all payments). However, since late payment runs are mainly in respect of non-system cases whose claim had not been received by Qualifying Week, they are heavily skewed towards men aged 60.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. samples.

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