HC Deb 16 January 1984 vol 52 cc147-9W
Sir Brandon Rhys Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish tables comparing net weekly spending power for single pensioners and married pensioners, paying the DHSS tax/benefit model tables figures of £12.25 rent, £4.50 rates and £1.40 water rates, assuming (a) no income other than basic national insurance pension, (b) £6 per week from 3,000 capital, (c) occupation pension entitlements for the single pensioner and the husband of £5, £10, £15, £20, £25, £30, £35, £40, £45 and £50, wife having category B pension, and (d) occupational pension entitlement for the husband as above, wife qualifying on her own earnings with occupational pension half that of the husband in each case.

Married Couple (over pension age)
£ weekly
Housing benefit Net weekly spending power
Income tax Rent rebate Rate rebate
(a) Basic retirement pension (RP) — 12.29 4.50 †53.04
(b) RP+£6.00 income from savings — 9.29 3.45 ‡54.99
(c) RP+man's occupational pension of:
(i) £5.00 — 9.79 3.65 54.69
(ii) £10.00 — 7.36 2.68 56.29
(iii) £15.00 — 6.31 2.33 59.89
(iv) £20.00 0.69 5.26 1.98 62.80
(v) £25.00 2.19 4.21 1.63 64.90
(vi) £30.00 3.69 3.16 1.28 67.00
(vii) £35.00 5.19 2.11 0.93 69.10
(viii) £40.00 6.69 1.06 0.58 71.20
(ix) £45.00 8.19 — 0.23 73.29
(x) £50.00 9.69 — — 76.56

(d) Both husband and wife have a basic retirement pension in own right, plus an occupational pension of:
Housing benefit Net weekly spending power
Husband Wife Income tax Rent rebate Rate rebate
(i) £5.00 £2.50 — 5.03 1.91 64.29
(ii) £10.00 £5.00 — 3.45 1.38 69.68
(iii) £15.00 £7.50 — 1.88 0.86 75.09
(iv) £20.00 £10.00 — 0.30 0.33 80.48
(v) £25.00 £12.50 — — — 87.35
(vi) £30.00 £15.00 — — — 94.85
(vii) £35.00 £17.50 0.90 — — 101.45
(viii) £40.00 £20.00 3.15 — — 106.70

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 22 December 1983, c. 394–403]: I regret that the waiting list figures given for the Bristol and Weston District Health Authority are incorrect. The amended figures are given below together with revised totals for the South Western Regional Health Authority and for England.

Dr. Boyson

[Pursuant to his reply, on 12 December 1983, c.353]: The information requested is shown in the following tables. The tables relate only to the assumptions requested by my right hon. Friend and have no general application. The housing costs indicated may not reflect those of the pensioners involved, very many of whom could be owner occupiers. Also 85 per cent. of all male retirement pensioners have a higher pension than the basic rate.

Owner occupiers receiving housing rebate, and with incomes above the housing needs allowance, would have their rebate lowered by 7p for every extra £1 income, rather than by the 28 p shown in the tables.

Housing benefit Net weekly spending power
Husband Wife Income tax Rent rebate Rate rebate
(ix) £45.00 £22.50 5.40 — — 111.95
(x) £50.00 £25.00 7.65 — — 117.20
* DHSS tax/benefit model assumptions for November 1983—rent £12.35, rates £4.50 and water rates £1.40.
† There is an entitlement to supplementary benefit which would provide net weekly spending power of £54.55.
‡ There is an entitlement to supplementary benefit which would provide net weekly spending power of £60.55.

Single Pensioner
£ weekly
Housing benefit Net weekly spending power
Income tax Rent rebate Rate rebate
(a) Basic retirement pension (RP) — 12.29 4.50 ‡32.59
(b) RP+£6.00 income from savings — 9.29 3.45 ||34.54
(c) RP+occupational pension of:
(i) £5.00 — 9.79 3.65 34.24
(ii) £10.00 — 7.36 2.68 35.84
(iii) £15.00 1.10 6.31 2.33 38.34
(iv) £20.00 2.60 5.26 1.98 40.44
(v) £25.00 4.10 4.21 1.63 42.54
(vi) £30.00 5.60 3.16 1.28 44.64
(vii) £35.00 7.10 2.11 0.93 46.74
(viii) £40.00 8.60 1.06 0.58 48.84
(ix) £45.00 10.10 — 0.23 50.93
(x) £50.00 11.60 — — 54.20
* DHSS tax/benefit model assumptions for November 1983—rent £12.35, rates £4.50 and water rates £1.40.
† It is assumed the pensioner qualifies for age allowance for tax purposes.
‡ There is an entitlement to supplementary benefit which would provide net weekly spending power of £34.10.
|| There is an entitlement to supplementary benefit which would provide net weekly spending power of £40.10.