§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who will, in October 2003, be in households in receipt of one or more of(a) pension credit, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit, (d) child tax credit, (e) working tax credit, (f) income support and (g) income-related jobseeker's allowance. [27689]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe estimated number of people receiving one or more of the following: pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, income support and income-related jobseeker's allowance in 2003–04 is 6.9 million. Numbers of people expected to receive child tax credit and working tax credit are not available as the rates and thresholds have not yet been set.
Notes:
1. Figures are consistent with the expenditure totals for Social Security published in the pre-Budget report.
2. Benefit forecasts of numbers in receipt are provided on an annual average basis.
3. The estimated numbers in receipt of pension credit are based on an end of year figure. Recipients will have their payments backdated to October 2003.