§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Monmouthshire benefited from(a) the winter fuel allowance, (b) the £100 allowance for the over 80s and (c) free TV licences in the last year for which figures are available. [130368]
§ Malcolm WicksThe number of people in Monmouthshire who received a winter fuel payment for winter 2002–03 was 19,625. Of that figure 3,970 were over age 80 and would be entitled to an additional amount of winter fuel payment from the winter of 2003–04. The extra amount will depend on the composition of the household, but generally most households will receive an extra £100.
The information in respect of people in receipt of free TV licence in Monmouthshire is not available. However, the number of people in Monmouthshire aged 75 or over receiving a social security benefit as at 30 November 2002 was 7,700. These people would be eligible to receive a free TV licence.
Notes:
1. Figures taken from the Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service winter fuels payment 2002–03 exercise and the Pensions Strategy Computer System: 30 September 2002.
2. 100 sample figures are rounded to the nearest five.
3. Figures based on 5 per cent. data taken from the Client Group Analysis of the population over state pension age as at 30 November 2002, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. These figures are expressed in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred
4. Social security benefits are attendance allowance, disability living allowance, severe disablement allowance, incapacity benefit, minimum income guarantee and state pension.
5. As only one TV licence is required per household, the number of free TV licences issued may be lower than the number of people entitled to one. Some households may contain more than one person aged 75 and over and not all households with a person aged 75 and over will have a television.
Source:
IAD Information Centre 100 per cent. sample and 5 per cent. sample.