§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate for (i) flat-rate compensation payments and (ii) compensation payments relating to interest forgone(a) the total number of people who have received such payments arising from delays in payment of state retirement pensions because of problems with the NIRS2 computer system, (b) the total cost to date of such payments, and (c) the total cost which he expects to have accrued when the problems with the NIRS2 system have been resolved. [92530]
§ Mr. TimmsThe total number of pensioners who have received flat-rate compensation payments is 166,989 at a cost of £1,669,890. In addition, a further £31,141.84 has been paid in compensation to pensioners following payment of arrears of benefit under the Departmental Special Payments Scheme.
Up to 30 June, no compensation payments have been made relating to interest forgone.
The total costs accrued because of the NIRS2 problems will not be known until recovery is complete.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by (1) what date he expects all retirement pensioners to be in receipt of the full retirement pension to which they are entitled on the basis of their complete record of national insurance contributions; [92481]
(2) if he will make a statement on progress made in resolving the delays to retirement pension payments associated with the introduction of the NIRS2 computer system. [92479]
§ Mr. TimmsI refer the hon. Member to the written answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for North Thanet (Mr. Gale) on 21 April 1999,Official Report, column 591.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate(a) the number of persons currently in receipt of (i) the basic state retirement pension alone and (ii) the basic state retirement pension and SERPS, who are currently being underpaid because of problems with the NIRS2 computer system, (b) the average weekly amount by which such pensions fall short of the correct figure, (c) the total amount which has been underpaid since April 1998, (d) the number of pensioners so affected in the week in which that number reached its peak, (e) the number of pensioners with SERPS underpayments of (1) more than £90 per week, (2) more than £80 per week, (3) more than £70 per week, (4) more than £60 per week and (5) more than £50 per week. [92480]
§ Mr. TimmsThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
578WWe estimate that approximately 285,000 pensioners have been affected by the NIRS2 computer system problems. Underpayments are expected to be between 1p and, in exceptional cases, £100 per week.
The total amount of Retirement Pension which has been underpaid between April 1998 and March 1999 is estimated to be in the region of £25 million.