§ 18. Mr. Donald AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with relevant Cabinet colleagues about the implications of the Gracious Speech for the personal security of pensioners in Wales. [142019]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI meet with Cabinet colleagues regularly to discuss a wide range of issues.
The Finance Bill will give effect to Budget measures. The pre-Budget Report announced an increase of£5 a week for single pensioners and£8 for married couple pensioners allowance from April 2001, and a further£3 for single pensioners and£4.80 for married couple pensioners from April 2002. It also announced that the Minimum Income Guarantee would increase to£92 a week in 2001–02 and£100 a week in 2002–03. The Winter Fuel Allowance has also been increased to£200. This is good news for all of Wales's 630,000 pensioners.
The Criminal Justice and Police Bill will help to achieve one of the Government's main objectives—to reduce crime and to reduce the fear of crime. Fear of crime is particularly high among pensioners and they will benefit greatly from measures in the Bill which are designed to combat disorder, nuisance and intimidating or antisocial behaviour on our streets. Such measures include extra police powers to tackle disorder in public places and raising the upper age limit of child curfew schemes to 15 years.