HC Deb 05 June 1997 vol 295 cc239-40W
Mrs. Betty Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the proportion of pensioners who do not claim the income support to which they are entitled. [966]

Mr. Denham

The latest available figures show that in 1994–95 between 34 per cent. and 41 per cent. of pensioners entitled to income support were not taking up their benefit. We want to get help to Britain's poorest pensioners and are commissioning research to establish why they do not claim the income support which is their due.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of income support in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, in each year since 1992. [266]

Mr. Bradley

The administration of Income Support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Gordon Prentice, dated 4 June 1997: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were in receipt of Income Support (IS) in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale in each year since 1992. The number of people in receipt of IS for the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale District since 1992 are:

  • >February 1992: 22,002
  • February 1993: 25,162
  • February 1994: 24,744
  • February 1995: 25,153
  • February 1996: 24,944
  • February 1997: 20,692
  • Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
The data provided is the latest available and relates to the actual number of people in receipt of IS on the last working day of February each year since 1992. The data for February 1997 does not include unemployed customers who now receive Jobseeker's Allowance. I hope you find this reply helpful.