HC Deb 05 June 2003 vol 406 cc545-6W
Annabelle Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the threshold for payment of compensation for delays in processing retirement pensions was set at eight months. [115507]

Maria Eagle

Under the terms of the department's discretionary financial redress scheme compensation may be considered where payments are unreasonably and exceptionally delayed due to official error. An

and return of the application, direct comparison of figures is difficult at this stage.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether pensioners who do not make a pension credit application using the pension credit hotline will be able to request an application form; and if he will make a statement. [116724]

Maria Eagle

Pensioners who do not want to use the freephone service available to take their pension credit application and wish instead to complete a paper application form will have their contact details taken by the Pension Service and a paper application form will be sent to them around October 2003. From October 2003, paper application forms will be issued as and when they are requested.