§ Mr. McWalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking in the short term to tackle the problems faced by pensioners whose incomes are marginally above the Minimum Income Guarantee. [116628]
§ Mr. BayleyWe have taken action over a wide front to help all of today's pensioners. Initiatives include Winter Fuel Payments, free eye tests to the over 60s and free TV licences for the over 75s from autumn next year. Also from April 2001, capital limits in the Minimum Income Guarantee for those over 60 will be increased from £6,000 to £12,000. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has also announced a review
532Wto look at ways to providing further help to pensioners on low incomes and modest pensions and savings who have worked hard to provide for themselves.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the categories of pensioner who will receive letters as part of his Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign. [117873]
§ Mr. BayleyAs part of the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) take-up campaign we will be writing to around two million pensioners whom our records suggest are most likely to have underlying entitlement. This targeted group will be pensioners who our pension records suggest have incomes below the MIG level. However, we do not know how many of these pensioners will have capital or other income that could affect their entitlement to benefit.