§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 31 October 2000,Official Report, columns 349–50W, (a) how many people have been sent letters inviting them to apply for the Minimum Income Guarantee and of these (i) how many tear-off slips have been returned and (ii) how many of the letters have resulted in a successful claim and (b) how many people have contacted the Minimum Income Guarantee helpline and as a result (i) how many claims have been submitted as a result of a helpline inquiry and (ii) how many of the helpline inquiries have resulted in a successful claim. [137525]
§ Mr. RookerAround 500,000 pensioners have requested claim forms or contacted the Minimum Income Guarantee helpline. The campaign is still in progress so comprehensive data are not yet available on the complete number of successful claims awarded. Of those processed half have been successful.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the average award of Minimum Income Guarantee which has been paid to the 319W pensioners who have started to receive the Minimum Income Guarantee as a result of his Department's current take-up campaign. [137408]
§ Mr. RookerPensioners who have made successful claims as a result of the Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign are better off by around £20.