§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much it would have been possible to increase the age addition for pensioners aged over 80 years, taking account of savings in means-tested benefits and higher income tax revenues, if the £2.5 billion allocated to the pensioner income guarantee had instead all been allocated to this purpose. [68861]
§ Mr. Timms[holding answer 2 February 1999]: The £2.5 billion package of measures to tackle pensioner poverty over the next three years includes provision for the Minimum Income Guarantee and Winter Fuel Payments as well as free eye tests for the over 60s and concessionary travel. We have assumed expenditure of about £0.8 billion a year.
A net increase in expenditure of £0.8 billion on the age addition in 1999–2000 would result in an estimated weekly increase of about £11.90.
Men aged 54 at 5 April 1996 Percentage Employed earners only Reckonable earnings from class 1 NICs during 1995–96 Number of years worked Nil £1–£4,575 £4,576 £9,151 £9,152–£13,727 £13,728 £18,303 £18,304 and over 0–5 10 — — — — — 6–10 4 — — — — — 11–15 3 — — — — — 16–20 2 — — — — — 21–25 3 — — — — — 26–30 3 — — — — — 30 or more 10 2 3 8 9 15 Total 34 3 4 8 9 16
Women aged 54 at 5 April 1996 Percentage Number of years worked All employed or self-employed Self-employed at any time Employed earners only 0–5 14 — 14 6–10 11 — 11 11–15 10 1 9 16–20 12 1 11 21–25 14 1 13 26–30 17 1 16 30 or more 22 1 20 Total 100 5 95 380W
Women aged 54 at 5 April 1996 Percentage Employed earners only Reckonable earnings from class 1 NICs during 1995–96 Number of years worked Nil £l-£4,575 £4,576-£9,151 £9,152-£l 3,727 £13,728-£18,303 £18,304 and over 0–5 14 — — — — — 6–10 11 — — — — — 11–15 7 1 — — — — 16–20 7 2 1 1 — —