[holding answer 24 March 2009]: The available information is in the following table.
£ 2004-05 n/a 2005-06 n/a 2006-07 351,377,127 2007-08 394,787,646 2008-09 372,772,841 n/a = Not available Note: Information for the last three financial years is held on the Department's financial systems. Information for earlier years could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Source: Bank statements from the Office of Paymaster General that show the amount paid out to third party lenders.
The available information is in the tables.
Number November 2003 118,700 February 2004 116,200 May 2004 113,500 August 2004 110,800 November 2004 107,800 February 2005 105,600 May 2005 104,900 August 2005 102,700 November 2005 100,800 February 2006 99,000 May 2006 96,900 August 2006 95,600 November 2006 94,100 February 2007 92,000 May 2007 91,200 August 2007 88,200 February 2008 83,400 May 2008 81,700 August 2008 81,200
Number November 2003 14,300 February 2004 14,000 May 2004 13,100 August 2004 11,400 November 2004 11,100 February 2005 11,200 May 2005 10,900 August 2005 8,700 November 2005 9,200 February 2006 10,400 May 2006 9,900 August 2006 9,900 November 2006 9,800 February 2007 9,600 May 2007 8,900 August 2007 8,700 February 2008 8,400 May 2008 8,200 August 2008 7,200
Number November 2003 88,900 February 2004 90,700 May 2004 105,700 August 2004 110,600 November 2004 112,500 February 2005 113,300 May 2005 115,100 August 2005 116,900 November 2005 116,900 February 2006 116,600 May 2006 117,500 August 2006 117,300 November 2006 116,900 February 2007 116,000 May 2007 115,500 August 2007 115,200 February 2008 113,200 May 2008 112,400 August 2008 111,000 Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum. 2. Figures have been uprated using 5 per cent. proportions against 100 per cent. WPLS totals. 3. November 2007 data is not available as DWP has not received this. 4. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample.