§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals are estimated to be eligible in 2003–04 for(a) pension credit, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit, (d) child tax credit, (e) working tax credit, (f) income support and (g) income-based jobseeker's allowance. [95236]
§ Malcolm WicksSix million families in the United Kingdom are expected to benefit from the new tax credits in 2003–04. However, information on the number of individuals eligible for working tax credit and child tax credit is not available.
The number of individuals estimated to be eligible for pension credit is 4.9 million (3.8 million pensioner households). We have set a PSA target to ensure that at least 3 million households are in receipt of pension credit by 2006. We expect to have made good progress towards this target by October 2004, when we aim to have 2.8 million households in receipt of pension credit.
The available information on existing benefits is in the table.
Estimated numbers of individuals eligible for benefit in 2003–04 Benefit Eligible individuals (million) Housing benefit 5.1 Council tax benefit 8.1 Income support 3.0 Jobseeker's allowance (income based) 1.1 Notes:
1. Individuals are defined as single adults, or both adult partners in a couple, children and non dependent adults are not included in the estimated eligible case load.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000.
Sources:
1. Benefit forecasts—based on PBR 2002 forecasts and take-up estimates from the DWP report "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up in 1999/2000".
2. Pension credit forecasts—from DWP Policy Simulation Model.
§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate for 2000–01(a) income support take-up, (b) minimum income guarantee take-up, (c) housing benefit take-up and (d) council tax benefit take-up, broken down by region. [106611]
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§ Malcolm WicksThe information requested is not available. The processes involved in producing take-up statistics are complex and national estimates cannot be routinely disaggregated by region.
The latest take-up statistics covering income related benefits are contained in the DWP report "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2000/2001", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has set a target for the number of benefit transactions currently paid in cash to be paid(a) into a current account, (b) into a basic bank account and (c) into a Post Office card account. [105179]
§ Malcolm WicksNo target has been set for each individual account option: current bank account, basic bank account, and the Post Office card account. Customers will be supplied with information which clearly sets out their account options and will enable them to choose the account that best meets their needs and circumstances. The take-up of each account option will be dependant on a variety of factors, including the number of people receiving a benefit or pension and customers' behaviour.
The Post Office card account is now up and running and the main banks are making their basic bank accounts available at Post Office branches. Universal banking services has, therefore, been introduced as planned and on time. This represents a very considerable effort and achievement by the Post Office, banks and other parties concerned.
In line with sound principles for managing risks when introducing major projects, we will be increasing the numbers of Post Office card accounts very gradually so that we can ensure the new systems are robust. I will provide the House with regular updates on progress.
§ David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to identify the number of people in the East Riding of Yorkshire who are of a pensionable age who are not accessing benefits to which they are entitled. [105196]
§ Mr. McCartneyWe want as many pensioners as possible to take up their entitlement in the East Riding of Yorkshire and across the country. The creation of The Pension Service provides an ideal opportunity to further encourage pensioners to take up their entitlements. We now have a Pension Service local service active throughout England, Scotland and Wales meeting customers in their local community. Not only are our customers being encouraged to claim when they ring their pension centre but local service teams run both appointment and drop in surgeries giving advice and actively encouraging take-up of entitlements.
There is a local service team of 18 staff covering the East Riding of Yorkshire area, dealing with both pensioners and pre-pensioners. The team is currently establishing services in partnership with local organisations. Some examples of this activity include:
- a) Bridlington Spa—Over 50s WorkFayre, used for an event in partnership with East Riding council under the auspices of the European Social Fund.
723W - b) Kirby House, Driffield—drop-in surgery location used to talk to members of Railway Housing Trust.
- c) Hull and East Riding Institute for the Blind—several drop-in surgeries to various members of the group plus participation in a Low Vision Exhibition.
- d) Gregson Court, Hornsea—drop-in surgery for residents of local sheltered accommodation group.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were claiming(a) unemployment-related and (b) sickness-related benefits in each (i) local authority and (ii) parliamentary constituency in Wales in January. [105245]
§ Malcolm WicksFor the latest available information on the number of people claiming sickness related benefits I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 February 2003,Official Report, columns 491–92W.
Information of the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in January is in the table.
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Number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance January 2003 Unitary Authority Total Wales 50,500 Anglesey, Isle of 1,700 Blaenau Gwent 1,800 Bridgend 2,000 Caerphilly 3,200 Cardiff 5,900 Carmarthenshire 2,700 Ceredigion 1,000 Conwy 1,700 Denbighshire 1,400 Flintshire 1,900 Gwynedd 2,500 Merthyr Tydfil 1,200 Monmouthshire 900 Neath Port Talbot 2,600 Newport 2,800 Pembrokeshire 2,600 Powys 1,300 Rhondda, Cynon, Taff 3,700 Swansea 4,100 The Vale of Glamorgan 2,100 Torfaen 1,500 Wrexham 1,800 Parliamentary Constituency Total Wales 50,500 Aberavon 1,200 Alyn and Deeside 1,100 Blaenau Gwent 1,800 Brecon and Radnorshire 800 Bridgend 1,200 Caernarvon 1,300 Caerphilly 1,800 Cardiff Central 1,500 Cardiff North 700 Cardiff South and Penarth 2,200 Cardiff West 1,800 Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 900 Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire 1,400 Ceredigion 1,000 Clwyd South 1,000 Clwyd West 1,000 Conwy 1,300 Cynon Valley 1,100 Delyn 800 Gower 1,000 Islwyn 1,100 Llanelli 1,400
Number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance January 2003 Meirionnydd Nant Conwy 800 Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 1,600 Monmouth 800 Montgomeryshire 500 Neath 1,400 Newport East 1,300 Newport West 1,700 Ogmore 1,100 Pontypridd 1,200 Preseli Pembrokeshire 1,600 Rhondda 1,300 Swansea East 1,600 Swansea West 1,600 Torfaen 1,400 Vale of Clwyd 1,200 Vale of Glamorgan 1,700 Wrexham 1,000 Ynys Mon 1,700 Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Figures are seasonally unadjusted (seasonally adjusted figures are not available for Local Authorities and Parliamentary Constituencies). Comparisons of different months in the year will be affected by seasonally and are not therefore a guide to trend.
Source:
Count of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobcentre Plus computer systems (including clerically held cases).