HC Deb 03 July 1995 vol 263 cc81-2W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost by the year 2030 of equalising the number of qualifying years for the category A pension at 39 for both women and men; and on what basis he estimates this cost. [31933]

year 2050 of calculating entitlement to benefits under the state earnings-related pensions scheme on the best 39 years of earnings; and on what basis he estimates this cost. [31935]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The estimated cost is £5 billion.

Notes:

1. The cost is in 1994–95 prices and is the estimated total increase in retirement pension expenditure.

2. This estimate assumes that the best 39 year rule would apply equally to contracted-in and contracted-out earnings.

3. This estimate is consistent with the assumptions and projections in the Government Actuary's report on the Pensions Bill 1994.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women are in receipt of state earnings-related pension (i) who earn more than £10,000 per year, and (ii) who earn more than £20,000 per year. [32005]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The information is in the table.

Mr. Arbuthnot

The annual cost is estimated to be about £³ billion by 2030.

Notes:

1. The cost is in 1994–95 prices and is the estimated total increase in retirement pension expenditure.

2. This estimate assumes that the change would be made to male pension for awards from 2010 onwards and the female rule would remain as at present for all years.

3. The estimates are relative to the projected costs of basic pension after allowing for the changes in the Pensions Bill.

4. This estimate is consistent with the assumptions and projections in the Government Actuary's report on the Pensions Bill 1994 and in the Government Actuary's Quinquennial Review on the National Insurance Fund.

Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) divorced and (b) widowed pensioners are receiving a full state pension based on their spouse's national insurance contribution record; and of these how many are also in receipt of (i) income support or (ii) other state benefits. [32074]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The figures for widowed and divorced pensioners are not available separately. The total number in March 1993 was 1,783.

It is not possible to identify how many of these people were receiving income support or other benefits.

Source:

Retirement Pension Statistics Biannual enquiry 31 March 1993.