§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social services what are the full-year and first-year costs of indexing each of (a) the single pension, (b) the married pension, (c) unemployment benefit, (d) child benefit and (e) the long-term rate of supplementary benefit in 1985–86 and 1986–87, both including and excluding savings on other benefits as a direct result of indexation of these benefits.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 26 February 1986, c. 611]: The estimated costs of increasing social security benefits in November 1985 in line wih the retail prices index are as follows:
Benefit Cost After allowing for savings on other benefits 1985–86 1986–87 1985–86 1986–87 £ million Retirement pension—men & women on own insurance 325 940 255 745 Retirement pension—married women on husband's insurance & adult dependants 55 150 40 120 Unemployment benefit 40 115 25 75 Child benefit 110 315 85 250 Supplementary allowance—long term rate 40 140 *25 *65 Supplementary pension 60 160 †-5 †-20 * Net costs after allowing for the uprating of other benefits. † Net savings after allowing for the uprating of retirement pension. The estimated costs of increasing these benefits in July 1986 in line with the retail prices index are as follows:
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Benefits Cost After allowing for savings on other benefits 1986–87 1987–88 1986–87 1987–88 £ million Retirement pension—men & women on own insurance 105 155 80 120 Retirement pension—married women on husband's insurance & adult dependants 20 25 15 20 Unemployment benefit 10 15 5 10 Child benefit 45 65 35 50 Supplementary allowance—long term rate 15 25 *15 *20 Supplementary pension 25 35 *3 *5 * Net costs after allowing for the uprating of other benefits.