HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 cc320-1W
David Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the pensioner population is in(a) the East Midlands and (b) England. [155638]

Malcolm Wicks

The figures requested are in the table.

Pensioner population
East Midlands 784,000
England 6,145,000
Notes:
1 The figures are from the Mid-Year population figures, 2002.
2 Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
3.'Pensioner' is defined as those over state pension age.
Source:
Office for National Statistics

Mr. Swire

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in East Devon are dependent on benefits; and what percentage of entitled pensioners in East Devon have taken up their benefits. [155326]

Malcolm Wicks

The information is not available in the format requested.

In May 2003, 29,200 pensioners in the East Devon constituency were in receipt of a key benefit. For the majority of these, 23,200, state pension was the only key benefit being received.

Key benefits are Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Minimum Income Guarantee, State Pension, Severe Disablement Allowance and Housing Benefit.

As at the end of January 2004 there were 3,437 Pension Credit households in East Devon parliamentary constituency. Information on the number of people who are eligible for Pension Credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met pensioner groups in Scotland. [155477]

Malcolm Wicks

Members of the ministerial team visit Scotland to discuss pension issues and have met with pensioner groups. In addition, the Department meets with representatives from pensioner groups in Scotland on a regular basis through various channels—including the Partnership Against Poverty Scotland group and the Pensions Forum which is held annually in Scotland and which members of the ministerial team attend, the last was held in Edinburgh in October.

Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Twickenham constituency(a) are in receipt of winter fuel payments, (b) were in receipt of the minimum income guarantee in 2003 and (c) have applied for and been granted pension credit. [154951]

Malcolm Wicks

The information is not available in the form requested.

Information on winter fuel payments for individual constituencies for 2003–04 will not be available until this winter's exercise is complete but will be provided to the hon. Member and placed in the Library when it becomes available.

The number of pensioner households in the Twickenham constituency in receipt of minimum income guarantee in August 2003 was 1,600 and receiving pension credit as at 31 January 2004 is 1,951. Numbers of applications for pension credit are not available at regional, county or constituency level.

Notes:

MIG figures are based on a 5 per cent, sample and therefore subject to sampling variation.

MIG claimants are benefit units where the claimant and/or their partner are aged 60 or over, therefore figure will include some claimants aged under 60.

MIG figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Source:

IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent, and 100 per cent, sample.