§ Hugh BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps he has taken to improve the financial position of pensioners in North Yorkshire. [102637]
§ Mr. McCartneyOver 14,000 people in North Yorkshire benefit from the Minimum Income Guarantee and receive an average £43.08 a week. 116,200 pensioners have benefited from the above inflation increases in the State Pension. Additionally
606WOfficials are in regular contact with the Local Authority Associations on the arrangements for Pension Credit and have conducted a series of national seminars for local authorities. In addition, a Pension Credit Handbook for all local authorities and their software suppliers is being produced.
§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average contribution of SERPS per recipient as an addition to the basic state pension has been in each year since 1990; [99153]
(2) what proportion of those retiring in each year since 1990 have retired with both the basic state pension and SERPS. [99154]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe information is not available prior to 1995. However, such information in respect of those in receipt of a State Pension is set out in the following tables:
128,240 received a Winter Fuel Payment of up to £200. Those pensioners in North Yorkshire eligible for Pension Credit stand to gain around £400 a year on average.
The creation of The Pension Service provides an ideal opportunity to further encourage pensioners to take up their entitlements. Not only are our customers being encouraged to claim when they ring their pension centre but we also have a network of local service teams throughout the country actively encouraging take up.
607WThere is a local service team of 10 staff covering the area of York and Selby, meeting customers in the community and actively encouraging take-up. They are developing advice and drop-in surgeries in partnership with other local organisations. For example, appointment surgeries at York District Hospital; a drop-in surgery held at the Guildhall, York, for an event in partnership with the Primary Care Trust and Staywarm as part of the 'Keep Warm Campaign', and a drop-in surgery used for a Winter Fuel event in partnership with the Energy Efficiency Unit.
Source
Pension Strategy Computer System as at 30 September 2002.
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 2002
Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuel Payment 2001–02 exercise.