HC Deb 18 July 2000 vol 354 c119W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) of 25 May 2000,Official Report, column 619W, how many pensioners are in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee (a) in total and (b) in each parliamentary constituency, for each year for which figures are available. [131196]

Mr. Rooker

The total number of pensioners claiming Income Support has been reducing since 1988 as the following table shows.

Minimum Income Guarantee claimants in Great Britain1
Year Total
2000 1,604,200
1999 1,627,900
1998 1,650,500
1997 1,713,900
1996 1,763,640
1995 1,781,000
1994 1,764,600
1993 1,736,200
1992 1,643,100
1991 1,574,900
1990 1,674,700
1989 1,606,500
1988 1,719,300
1 Before April 1999 this would have been expressed as Income Support

Figures for parliamentary constituencies for the Minimum Income Guarantee which was introduced in April 1999 have been placed in the Library.