HC Deb 05 March 2001 vol 364 cc65-6W
27. Mr. Simon Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee in(a) Wales and (b) England; and how many and what proportion have had their applications approved to date. [150511]

Mr. Rooker

There are currently some 97,000 pensioners in Wales and some 1.4 million in England in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee. This figure does not include spouses and dependants, who account for some 2 million beneficiaries in GB. As a result of the national take-up campaign over 182,000 additional claims have been processed by the end of January, of which some 82,000 were successful.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been sent letters inviting them to apply for the Minimum Income Guarantee; how many tear-off slips have been returned; how many of the letters have resulted in a successful claim; how many people have contacted the Minimum Income Guarantee helpline; how many claims have been submitted as a result of a helpline inquiry; and how many of the helpline inquiries have resulted in a successful claim. [151497]

Mr. Rooker

Since the launch of the campaign last May, 2.4 million pensioners have been written to and around 840,000 pensioners have responded. Over 475,000 calls have been received by the MIG claim line service and some 365,000 pensioners have requested a postal claim pack. At the end of January, the Department had received over 182,000 additional claims. Claims continue to be received and processed.

Mr. Hilary Benn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in the Leeds, Central parliamentary constituency are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee. [151668]

Mr. Rooker

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 26 February 2001,Official Report, column 541W.