To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of single (a) women and (b) men who will have reached the age of 60 after the qualifying week for winter fuel payment eligibility in 2007, but before 29 February 2008. (181389)

[holding answer 23 January 2008]: We estimate that 170,00 single women and 160,000 single men will have reached the age of 60 years after the end of the qualifying week for winter fuel payment eligibility in 2007 but before 29 February 2008.

Note:

Estimates are based on the Office for National Statistics’ published ‘2006-based’ population projections.