§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in(a) St. Helens South, (b) St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) the North West and (e) England are eligible to claim the minimum income guarantee. [44717]
§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding reply 21 March 2002]: Estimates of the number of people eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee are not available below National level. Figures for the number of pensioners who may be entitled to but are not receiving the MIG are contained in the publication, "Take Up of Income Related Benefits: Statistics for 1999–2000".
The figures in the report pre-date the MIG take up campaign in May 2000 which, up to the end of January 2002, has resulted in 128,163 additional successful claims—pensioners are on average £20 a week better off as a result.
The table shows the number of MIG recipients as at November 2001, by area:
Thousands Area Number of MIG claimants St. Helens South Parliamentary Constituency 3,200 St. Helens MBC 6,300 Merseyside 6,180 North West GOR 24,540 England 1,459,200 Source:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry November 2001