HC Deb 27 November 2000 vol 357 cc435-6W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total expenditure on pensioner support in each year since 1996–97, with an estimate for 2000–01 and 2001–02 on the basis of proposals in the pre-Budget report, with a breakdown in (a) cash and (b) annual percentage share terms for (i) universal contribution based, (ii) universal but not based on contribution eligibility, (iii) income-related contribution and (iv) income-related but not based on contribution eligibility benefits. [140536]

Mr. Rooker

The information is in the table.

£ million Percentage
All benefits for the elderly
1996–97 40,808 100.0
1997–98 42,577 100.0
1998–99 44,502 100.0
1999–2000 47,774 100.0
2000–01 50,428 100.0
2001–02 54,171 100.0
Contributory benefits
1996–97 32,106 78.7
1997–98 33,664 79.1
1998–99 35,684 80.2
1999–2000 37,832 79.2
2000–01 38,851 77.0
2001–02 42,074 77.7
Non-contributory benefits
1996–97 45 0.1
1997–98 236 0.6
1998–99 239 0.5
1999–2000 946 2.0
2000–01 2,091 4.2
2001–02 1,679 3.1
Income-related contributory benefits
1996–97 None
1997–98 None
1998–99 None
1999–2000 None
2000–01 None
2001–02 None
Income related non-contributory benefits
1996–97 8,657 21.2
1997–98 8,678 20.4
1998–99 8,579 19.3
1999–2000 8,996 18.8
2000–01 9,486 18.8
2001–02 10,417 19.2

Notes:

  1. 1. Totals may appear not to sum due to rounding.
  2. 2. Information is consistent with pre-Budget Report Cm4917 and with Table 3 of the Social Security Departmental Report 2000, Cm 4614.
  3. 3. The benefits included in each category above are:

Contributory benefits: Retirement Pension (basic and earnings related) and Christmas Bonus for elderly recipients of contributory benefits.

Non-Contributory Benefits: Non-contributory Retirement Pension, Winter Fuel Payments, Concessionary TV licences and Christmas Bonus for recipients of qualifying non-contributory benefits.

Income-related contributory benefits: None

Income-related non-contributory benefits: Income Support/ Minimum Income Guarantee, Social Fund, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit