§ Sir Ian GilmourTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his replies to the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham,Official Report, 20 May, column 388–9, how many of the 610,000 single pensioners with less than £5 a week in addition to their state pensions. including supplementary benefit, were in receipt of supplementary housing pension; and how many were in receipt of housing benefit.
§ Miss WiddecombeI will write to my right hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) of 23 July,Official Report, columns 541–43, on pensioners' incomes, he will give the same analysis for each quintile of pensioners' incomes.
§ Miss WiddecombeI refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 18 October at columns273–74.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would have been the value of the state retirement pension for(a) a single person and (b) a married couple for each of the years 1980 to 1991 if it had been uprated in line with average earnings or increase in prices, whichever was the higher.
577W
§ Miss WiddecombeI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 14 October at columns52–53.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security further to his reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North of 18 October on persons in receipt of state pensions and SERPS, if he will give figures on the same basis as the current table, showing the numbers in each category had the scheme remained unaltered since 1979.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North of 18 October on persons in receipt of state pensions and SERPS, what social security characteristics and qualifications are common to the individuals currently receiving £29 or more as a SERPS pension.
§ Miss WiddecombeI will write to the hon. Member shortly.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the maximum amount of additional pension from state earnings-related pension currently being paid to any individual.
§ Miss WiddecombeI understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.