HC Deb 22 July 1999 vol 335 cc580-1W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his most recent estimate of the number of people receiving each of the benefits administered by his Department. [92375]

Mr. Timms

The numbers of recipients of each of the benefits administered by the Department are shown in the table.

Benefit Number of recipients (Thousand) Date Sample size (per cent.)
Reduced earnings allowance1 157 April 1998 10
Severe disablement allowance 372 November 1998 5
State retirement pension3 10,867 March 1999 5
War pensions4,5,6 302 June 1999 100
Widows benefit 268 March 1999 5
1 Provisional figures
2 Jobseeker's allowance represents all those claiming unemployment-related benefits. This includes Jobseeker's allowance (contributory), Jobseeker's allowance (income based) and those with National Insurance credits only.
3 Figures are for all pensioners resident in GB and also overseas.
4 Figures relate to payments made to war pensioners in the United Kingdom and overseas.
5 Figures are based on management information supplied by the War Pensions Agency.
6 Figures include war disablement pensions, war widows pensions and child allowances.

Note:

Earnings top-up figures are excluded, as it is a pilot benefit.