HC Deb 04 December 2001 vol 376 cc194-5W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those on income related benefits are subject to the tariff incomes schedule; and what plans he has to review the coverage of the schedule. [15616]

Malcolm Wicks

The information is in the table:

Number
Income Support (IS) (including Minimum Income Guarantee) 136,000
Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based) (JSA(IB)) 9,000
Housing Benefit (HB) only 20,000
Council Tax Benefit (CTB) only 170,000
HB and CTB 170,000

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. IS and JSA(IB) figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

3. HB and CTB figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

4. Of those receiving IS and JSA(IB), 10,000 were also receiving HB, 50,000 were receiving CTB and 60,000 were receiving both HB and CTB.

5. HB/CTB figures refer to households, which may be a single person, a couple or a family.

Sources:

IS Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 2000.

JSA Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 2000.

HB and CTB Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample, May 2000.

We keep the rules on the treatment of capital in the income-related benefits under review. We will shortly announce reforms of the treatment of capital for the pension credit.