Lump Sum Widow's Payment

HC Deb 03 April 1996 vol 275 c356W

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost to the Exchequer of(a) increasing the lump sum widow's payment to £1,500 and (b) thereafter uprating this new payment annually in line with the retail price index.[23587]

Mr. Heald

The extra cost of increasing the widow's payment to £1,500 would be approximately £21 million in 1996–97 and £22 million in 1997–98¹.

Uprating in 1997–98 would cost approximately £650,000 per 1 per cent. increase.

Note: ¹Source: Government Actuary's Department. Figures rounded to nearest million.