§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many pensioners will benefit from the uprating of the minimum income for pensioners in line with earnings at the next benefit uprating; and what this number is as a proportion of the total number of pensioners receiving the basic state pension; [78039]
(2) how many pensioners will become eligible for income support directly as a result of the uprating of the minimum income for pensioners. [78040]
§ Mr. TimmsThe information is not currently available. The information will be available as soon as the forecasts on which the requested figures are based have been published in the Departmental Report on 30 March. I will write to the hon. Member after publication of this Report.
§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the uprating of the minimum income for pensioners will be in line with earnings at each annual uprating. [78038]
§ Mr. TimmsWe have made it clear that our aim is to uprate the Minimum Income Guarantee in line with average earnings over time as resources allow. The increase next April will provide a further boost to the incomes of the least well-off among today's pensioners on top of this year's increase of three times the rate of inflation. We will review the economic situation and make decisions for future years at the appropriate time.
102W
Industrial injuries disablement benefit—newly diagnosed awards of asbestos-related diseases in the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 All Men Women All occupations 1,016 995 21 Corporate managers 2 2 0 General managers 1 1 0 Physical, mathematical and engineering science professionals 3 3 0 Other professionals 1 1 0 Physical and engineering science associate professionals 17 17 0 Life science and health associate professionals 1 0 1 Teaching associate professionals 1 0 1 Office clerks 4 2 2 Personal and protective services workers 6 4 2 Extraction and building trade workers 276 275 1 Metal, machinery and related trades workers 298 296 2 Precision, handicraft, printing and related trades workers 51 50 1 Other craft and related trades workers 37 34 3
§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households have weekly incomes of(a) £65 to £70, (b) £71 to £75, (c) £76 to £80, (d) £81 to £85, (e) £86 to £90 and (f) over £90 in the case of single pensioner households, and of (i) £110 to £120, (ii) £121 to £130, (iii) £131 to £140, (d) £141 to £150 and (e) over £150 in the case of pensioner couples. [78041]
§ Mr. TimmsThe information is in the tables.
Number of single pensioners in selected income bands Range of income Number of single pensioners (Thousands) £65 to £70 180 £71 to £75 200 £76 to £80 220 £81 to £85 130 £86 to £90 130 Over £90 3,080
Number of pensioner couples in selected income bands Range of income Number of pensioner couples (Thousands) £110 to £120 80 £121 to £130 80 £131 to £140 110 £141 to £150 160 Over £150 2,100 Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000, although they are not necessarily accurate to that degree.
2. 'Income' refers to the net weekly income of the single or couple.
3. Pensioners are defined as single (non-cohabiting) people over State pension age (65 and over for men, 60 and over for women), and couples (married or cohabiting) where the head is over State pension age.
4. Estimates are based on incomes reported in the 1996/97 Family Resources Survey, uprated to April 1998 prices.