§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what would be the cost in 1991–92 of increasing the basic retirement pension by £5 per week for a single pensioner and £8 a week for a married couple, assuming similar increases in linked benefits and in income-related benefits for pensioners, giving figures(a) gross and (b) net of tax revenues and savings in other benefits.
§ Mr. Hanley[holding answer 27 June 1991]: The gross cost in Northern Ireland of increasing the weekly basic retirement pension by £5 a week for a single pensioner and £8 a week for a married couple, assuming similar increases in linked benefits and in income-related benefits for all those receiving these increases, is £69.3 million. Net of income tax, the figure would be £64.8 million. A reliable estimate is not available of the cost, if those in receipt of a linked benefit but not the pensioner premium, did not receive a similar increase in their income-related benefit.