§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the Green Paper on Welfare Reform, what targets he has set for the reduction of working-age people living in workless households; and by what date these targets will be achieved. [52988]
§ Mr. DenhamThe proposals and success measures contained in the Welfare Reform Green Paper "A New Contract for Welfare" are still subject to consultation which concludes on 31 July.
§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the Green Paper on Welfare Reform, what targets he has set for the level of an adequate retirement income over the next 10 years. [53114]
§ Mr. DenhamA key objective of the Government Pensions Review is to ensure that pensioners should have an adequate income in retirement; that they should share fairly in rising national prosperity, and that public finances should be both sustainable and affordable. The best way to ensure that pensioners have security in retirement is a combination of the basic state pension and a good second pension. We are concerned about those pensioners who will not have access to a decent occupational scheme. That is why we will create a new framework of secure, flexible and value for money Stakeholder Pensions for those who cannot join an employer's occupational scheme, or whose pay is low or intermittent, and for whom personal pensions are usually unsuitable.
The Government have announced a £2.5 billion package of measures to help today's pensioners which will give single pensioners a guaranteed minimum income of not less than £75 a week, and £116.60 for a married couple. In addition we have reduced VAT on fuel to 5 per cent. and have committed £400 million to make Winter Fuel Payments last winter and next. We have also 193W allocated a further £0.5 billion so that from the following winter all eligible pensioner households will get an annual winter fuel payment of £20.