§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many(a) widows and (b) widowers will benefit from the Welfare Reform Bill and by how much in (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (ii) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [111447]
§ Angela EagleThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
302W
Estimates of the numbers of widows and widowers who will be affected by the Welfare Reform Act in Great Britain, and the
average gain
Widows Widowers Numbers affected Average gain (£) Numbers affected Average gain (£) Bereavement Payment 40,000 1,000 15,000 2,000 Widowed Parents Allowance — — 25,000 145–50 Bereavement Allowance — — 10,000 130 1 Per week (net) Notes:
1. Figures shown are for the first full year (2002–03), assuming implementation date of April 2001.
2. Numbers affected are rounded to the nearest 5,000.
3. Bereavement Payment numbers are total payments made over the financial year. Weekly benefit numbers are an average stock figure for the financial year.
4. Not all the numbers affected will be financial gainers as there may be offsetting income-related benefit reductions. Average weekly benefit gains are net of income-related benefits.