HC Deb 23 April 2001 vol 367 cc149-51W
Mrs. Gilroy

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to(a) Plymouth, Sutton constituency, (b) Plymouth, Devonport constituency and (c) South-West Devon constituency, the effects on the Plymouth unitary authority area of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158024]

Mr. Rooker

The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of eradicating 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 Plymouth, Sutton, Plymouth, Devonport, South-West Devon and the Plymouth unitary authority area 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 is worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from this April: nationally about 7 million families receive Child Benefit, in Plymouth, Sutton 9,631 families benefit, in Plymouth, Devonport 13,143 families benefit, in South-West Devon 11,376 families benefit and in the Plymouth unitary authority area 29,365 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 Plymouth, Sutton the number has reduced from 4,600 to 1,900, in Plymouth, Devonport from 3,700 to 1,400, in South-West Devon from 1,300 to 500 and in the Plymouth unitary authority area from 9,000 to 3,700. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally; in Plymouth, Sutton the number has reduced from 2,400 to 1,800, in Plymouth, Devonport from 2,800 to 2,600, in South-West Devon from 700 to 600 and in the Plymouth unitary authority area from 5,600 to 4,800.

Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. Last winter (2000–01), the payment was £200 for households who qualified. Around 16,100 older people in Plymouth, Sutton, 18,700 in Plymouth, Devonport and 18,600 in South-West Devon received a Winter Fuel Payment. Information on the number of Winter Fuel Payments received is not available by local authority area.

To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 16,000 pensioners in Plymouth, Sutton, 17,500 in Plymouth, Devonport, 17,200 in South-West Devon and 44,000 in the Plymouth unitary authority area 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 7,600 in Plymouth, Sutton, 6,600 in Plymouth, Devonport, 7,100 in South-West Devon and 18,400 in the Plymouth unitary authority area. 3,200 pensioner families in Plymouth, Sutton, 2,800 in Plymouth, Devonport, 1,700 in South-West Devon and 7,000 in the Plymouth unitary authority area are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. They are now at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

To help tomorrow's pensioners, we have introduced the new stakeholder pension which is designed to help those on moderate to higher earnings who do not have access to an occupational pension; lower to moderate earners will benefit when we introduce the State Second Pension in April 2002; and from 2003, the Pension Credit will mean that pensioners will for the first time be rewarded, not penalised, for saving.