HC Deb 10 April 2001 vol 366 cc625-7W
Ms Glenda Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Hampstead and Highgate will benefit from the latest rise in Child Benefit. [158011]

Angela Eagle

The information as requested is not available.

However, the latest information shows there are 8,565 families with 14,964 children in the Hampstead and Highgate parliamentary constituency receiving Child Benefit.

Since 1997 the rate of Child Benefit for the first child has increased by 26 per cent. in real terms. The rates from April 2001 are £15.50 for the first child and £10.35 for all other children.

Notes:

  1. 1. Figures are based on the November 2000 100 per cent. extract of the Child Benefit computer system.
  2. 2. Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the relevant version of the ONS Postcode Directory. Constituency boundaries are represented as at May 1997.

Ms Glenda Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Hampstead and Highgate are benefiting from the Disability Income Guarantee. [158018]

Mr. Bayley

It is estimated that in 2001–02 approximately 500 cases will benefit from the Disability Income Guarantee in the Hampstead and Highgate constituency.

Notes:

  1. 1. The figures are based on data taken from November 2000 5 per cent. scans of the Income Support and Disability Living Allowance computer systems.
  2. 2. Due to the small sample sizes involved these figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used only as a guide.

Ms Glenda Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the effects, with statistical information, on Hampstead and Highgate of his Department's policies since 2 May 1997. [158016]

Mr. Rooker

The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives ofEradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10; promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and, combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (CM4865, September 2000) sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than data at a local authority level, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Hampstead and Highgate since May 1997.

Measures in our five Budgets so far will lift over 1.2 million children nationally out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.

Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive Child Benefit, and in Hampstead and Highgate 8,565 families benefit.

We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over 50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 960,600; in Hampstead and Highgate the number has reduced from 4,600 to 2,500. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Hampstead and Highgate from 2,500 to 2,100.

Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 13,700 older people in Hampstead and Highgate have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter (2000–2001).

To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 12,100 pensioners in Hampstead and Highgate will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s of whom we estimate there are about 6,000 in Hampstead and Highgate. 3,000 pensioner families in Hampstead and Highgate are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

Ms Glenda Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Hampstead and Highgate will benefit from the increase in Minimum Income Guarantee. [158010]

Mr. Rooker

We estimate that over 2 million pensioners in Great Britain as a whole will benefit from this April's increases to the Minimum Income Guarantee rates and capital limits. As well as those pensioners who might be newly entitled in Hampstead and Highgate, some 3,000 pensioners who are currently entitled will benefit from the increase.