To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will estimate the number of pensioners that would be lifted out of poverty if take-up of means-tested benefits was 100 per cent.; and if she will make a statement. (287325)

Our latest estimates show that if there were 100 per cent. take-up of all income related benefits by pensioners entitled to them the number of pensioners below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, after housing costs, would fall by around 700,000, after housing costs have been taken into account, based on 2008-09 benefit rates.