HC Deb 19 December 2003 vol 416 c108W
Lembit Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many individuals are estimated to be eligible for pension credit in Wales in(a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05, (c) 2005–06 and (d) 2006–07; [144628]

(2) what his Department"s target is for the number of individuals who will be receiving pension credit in Wales in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05, (c) 2005–06 and (d) 2006–07. [144629]

Malcolm Wicks

The information requested is not available. It is estimated that 250,000 households or 350,000 individuals in Wales are eligible for pension credit in 2003–04. As at the end of November 2003 there were 120,000 households (145,710 individuals) in Wales receiving pension credit. There is no departmental target for the number of individuals who will be receiving pension credit in Wales. The Department has a PSA target for at least 3 million pensioner households to be receiving pension credit in Great Britain (GB) by 2006, which is estimated to correspond to around 3.7 million individuals. Reliable estimates of households and individuals entitled to or in receipt of pension credit in future years are not available below GB level. We want all those eligible for pension credit to take up their entitlement.

Notes:

  1. 1. Estimates are based on the 2001–02 Family Resources Survey and are rounded to the nearest 50,000.
  2. 2. Recipients are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data at 14 November 2003 and have been rated up to give month end estimates.
  3. 3. Figures are for Government Office Region (GOR) of Wales. Government Office Regions are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.