§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the administrative cost would be of(a) paying an additional 40p per week on the state pension and (b) paying a £20 winter fuel bonus to all pensioners once per year. [62243]
§ Mr. DenhamThe administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.
2WLetter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 3 December 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the administrative cost would be of a) paying an additional 40p per week on the State pension and b) paying a £20 winter fuel bonus to all pensioners once per year.If the 40p increase were to be paid as part of the annual uprating exercise, there would be no additional administrative cost. If it were to be paid separately the additional costs are estimated at around £500,000.The administrative costs of paying a £20 winter fuel bonus to all State Pension recipients resident in Great Britain once a year would be around £12 million.I hope you find this reply helpful.