HC Deb 13 January 2003 vol 397 cc365-6W
Mr. Randall

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how many people will qualify for the minimum income guarantee; and if he will make a statement. [89717]

Mr. McCartney

As at August 2002 there were 1.76 million pensioners receiving the minimum income guarantee (MIG) which means that they need not live on less than £98.15 a week, £102.10 from April. This is on top of our £200 a year winter fuel payments, free TV licences for the over-75s, worth £104 a year, and above inflation increases to the basic state pension.

From October all existing minimum income guarantee recipients will be automatically transferred to pension credit, which will for the first time reward—not penalise—savings, ensuring those who have worked hard to save modest amounts will gain from having done so.

Mr. Clelland

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have benefited from the minimum income guarantee in(a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) Gateshead; and what was the average uplift. [89528]

Mr. McCartney

As at August 2002, 12,800 pensioners in Newcastle upon Tyne received on average £43.63 Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) per week and 8,400 pensioners in Gateshead received an average weekly MIG of £41.92.

Source:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, August 2002.