HC Deb 03 February 1999 vol 324 c672W
Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of pensioners who(a) will be eligible for the new pension income guarantee and (b) will claim the guarantee. [68821]

Mr. Timms

We estimate that around 1.5 million pensioners will be receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee at April 1999. Estimates of the numbers of pensioners who will be eligible for, but not claiming, the Minimum Income Guarantee, and estimates of the numbers who will make a claim are currently being revised following the discovery of an error in the published take-up estimates. We expect to be publishing revised estimates in the Spring.