| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Pension Entitlement
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what discussions he has had with organisations
19 Dec 2000 : Column: 100W
concerned with pension reforms on the subject of widows and divorcees who in remarrying are disadvantaged in terms of their pension entitlement; [143570]
- (2) what plans he has to review the system whereby widows and divorcees can be disadvantaged in terms of pension entitlement by remarrying. [143569]
Mr. Rooker: Pension entitlement is determined when a claim is made at state pension age. An individual's contributions do not constitute a personal fund either for themselves or a spouse. The rules on remarriage do not, therefore, cause disadvantage.
Minimum Income Guarantee
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many (a) women over the age of 60 years and (b) men over the age of 65 years were in receipt of Income Support in each month since May 1997; [143391]
- (2) how many (a) women over the age of 60 years and (b) men over the age of 65 years were in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee in each month since its introduction. [143392]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The information is in the table.
| Quarter | Men aged 65 and over | Women aged 60 and over |
|---|---|---|
| May 1997 | 358.7 | 1,173.9 |
| August 1997 | 357.9 | 1,168.7 |
| November 1997 | 354.2 | 1,159.5 |
| February 1998 | 350.7 | 1,146.3 |
| May 1998 | 341.5 | 1,131.5 |
| August 1998 | 338.7 | 1,125.9 |
| November 1998 | 336.4 | 1,118.2 |
| February 1999 | 331.3 | 1,101.7 |
| May 1999 | 334.6 | 1,102.2 |
| August 1999 | 337.7 | 1,101.1 |
| November 1999 | 338.0 | 1,098.4 |
| February 2000 | 333.5 | 1,082.2 |
| May 2000 | 338.3 | 1,087.0 |
| August 2000 | 346.0 | 1,100.6 |
Notes:
1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
3. Pensioner figures refer to male claimants aged 65 and over, and female claimants aged 60 and over.
4. Minimum Income Guarantee commenced in April 1999.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 to August 2000
The table shows a downward trend until May 1999 due to pensioners receiving higher average retirement incomes. The downward trend was halted at this point due to the introduction of the Minimum Income Guarantee and its more generous uprating formula.
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have applied
19 Dec 2000 : Column: 101W
(a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for the Minimum Income Guarantee since the start of the take-up campaign in each Benefits Agency area. [143524]
Mr. Rooker: The effect of the Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign will not be known until it comes to a conclusion. There are thousands more claims in the pipeline, and the effects of the last stage of the campaign will impact on claims processed up to January next year.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many calls have been received by the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline since the Chancellor's pre-Budget statement; and if he will estimate the maximum number of people who were on hold during such calls at any one time. [143093]
Mr. Rooker: The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 18 December 2000:
- The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many calls have been received by the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline since the Chancellor's pre-budget statement, and to estimate the maximum number of people who were on hold during such calls at any one time.
- As of 13 December, 179,050 calls have been received where the customer has spoken to an adviser. A recorded message and extended opening hours were introduced from 8 December.
- Numbers of callers on hold fluctuate from second to second, it is not possible to give an estimate of the number of people on hold at any one time.
- I hope this is helpful.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have contacted the Benefits Agency this year regarding (a) overpayment and (b) underpayment of winter fuel payments; and of these, how many were from widows who have received only half of their entitlement. [143092]
Angela Eagle: The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 18 December 2000:
- The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people have contacted the Benefits Agency this year regarding (a) overpayment and (b) underpayment of winter fuel payments; and of these, how many were from widows who have received only half of their entitlement.
- The information requested is not available, as detailed information on the types of queries received is not recorded.
- I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.
Social Security Conferences
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how frequently senior civil servants in national departments of social security in English-speaking countries meet together in conference; when and where the last three such meetings were held; which of his officials attended those meetings; and at what cost to
19 Dec 2000 : Column: 102W
public funds; what subjects were discussed; and if he will place a copy of the minutes of those meetings in the Library. [141341]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Meetings between the heads of social security departments in the UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, the United States of America and Ireland take place every 18 months. The last three meetings took place in the UK (September 2000), New Zealand (March 1999) and Ireland (September 1997).
The Department's Permanent Secretary generally attends the meetings outside the UK, together with two senior officials who hold responsibility for the areas of work to be discussed. The UK hosted this year's meeting and additional officials attended relevant discussions. The subjects discussed vary but are generally wide-ranging.
The cost of hosting the UK meeting was just under £60,000, which is broadly in line with the costs incurred by other countries for these meetings.
Due to the informal nature of the meetings, and to promote frankness and candour during discussions, formal minutes are not published. This falls within Exception 2 of the Code of Practice of Access to Government Information.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Student Finances
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when he will publish the triennial survey of student finances; [143183]
- (2) what independent academic studies his Department has commissioned into sources of student financing and student response to changes in the public student funding support package since the introduction of changes and abolition of grants following the 1997 Dearing report; what studies of this nature have been received by his Department; and when they will be published. [143184]
Mr. Wicks: "Changing student finances: income, expenditure and the take-up of student loans among full and part-time higher education students in 1998-99" by Claire Callender and Martin Kemp of South Bank University is due to be published on 20 December. This is the fourth in a series of roughly triennial reports on students' income and expenditure, and the first since the Dearing report. A copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
The Department has also published "Students in the labour market--nature, extent and implications of term-time employment among University of Northumbria undergraduates" by Dr. Mike Barke, Paul Braidford et al of University of Northumbria in July 2000. In addition, two studies are currently under way and are expected to be completed in early 2001--"Participation in higher education by mature students" (together with Universities UK, Higher Education Funding Council for England, Higher Statistics Agency and Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) and "Participation in higher education by students from lower socio-economic groups".
19 Dec 2000 : Column: 103W
The Department is currently developing its research programme for 2001-02 which may include further research on students in higher education.
Education (Voluntary Provision)
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many voluntary sector providers of education there are. [142827]
Jacqui Smith: The responsibility for educating pupils who are unable to attend school rests with local education authorities. They are increasingly working with a range of both national and local voluntary sector partners in order to ensure that pupils unable to attend school receive a suitable education. We welcome this partnership approach and see it as an important element in meeting the target for providing a full-time education for all pupils excluded from school by 2002. We do not collect information centrally on the number of voluntary providers.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |