HC Deb 13 March 2000 vol 346 cc48-9W
Mr. Crausby

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are in receipt of war and war widows' pensions in(a) Bolton, North-East parliamentary constituency and (b) Bolton. [111579]

Mr. Bayley

The administration of war pensions is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. Gordon Hextall. He will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. David Crausby, dated 8 March 2000: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people are in receipt of war and war widows' pensions in (a) Bolton North East parliamentary constituency and (b) Bolton. I am sorry to advise you that this precise information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The war pensions computer system does not separate details of war pensioners into Parliamentary constituencies or local authority areas. However, the computer system does provide statistics showing the numbers of war disablement pensioners and war widows resident in Welfare Office regions. Pensioners and widows living in Bolton fall within the Preston welfare region, which also covers Blackburn, Preston, part of Wigan and some parts of Greater Manchester. The statistics held for the area that includes Bolton are:

  • War disablement pensioners—6953
  • War widows—858
If I can be of further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me.