To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for pension credit were made in Northern Ireland between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2007; how many have been processed; and how many are outstanding. (135341)

The Pension Service received 18,335 claims for pension credit between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2007. A separate figure for pension credit claims for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 is not available. Management information systems were not available at this time.

The Pension Service processed 19,088 applications between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2007. This figure includes some applications, which were carried forward from the previous year. A separate figure for pension credit claims processed for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 is not available. Management information systems were not available at this time.

At 30 April 2007 the total number of pension credit claims outstanding was 1,854. This includes claims which have to be previewed to check all information has been received, those where we have asked customers for further information and those with all the required information to enable a decision to be taken.