HC Deb 06 March 2000 vol 345 cc509-10W
25. Mr. Blizzard

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are eligible to benefit from the minimum income guarantee; and how many have done so. [111856]

Mr. Bayley

Around 1.5 million pensioners are already receiving their Minimum Income Guarantee through income support. We must now turn our attention to 500,000 pensioners, more who may not be claiming their Minimum Income Guarantee. We will be announcing details of the national campaign shortly.

Mr. Hilary Benn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a guide to pensioners' entitlement to the minimum income guarantee; and how it can be claimed. [112555]

Mr. Bayley

The minimum income guarantee is delivered through Income Support. Details on pensioners' entitlement and how to make a claim are contained in the Income Support guide, IS20. I am a placing copy in the Library.

Mr. Hilary Benn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people aged 65 years and over are currently receiving the minimum income guarantee in(a) the Leeds, Central parliamentary constituency and (b) the City of Leeds. [112552]

Mr. Bayley

The minimum income guarantee relates to income support pensioners. The information is in the table.

Income support pensioners aged 65 and over, by parliamentary constituency—November 1999
Thousands
Constituency Pensioners aged 65 and over
Leeds Central 2.9
Leeds East 2.4
Leeds North East 2.4
Leeds North West 1.6
Leeds West 2.4
Elmet 1.5
Morley and Rothwell 2.1
Pudsey 2.1

Notes:

1. Sample size 5 per cent., therefore subject to sampling error.

2. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where either the claimant and/or their partner is aged 65 years or over.

3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

Source:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 1999.