§ Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many widowers would have been eligible for widowers benefits between 1994 and 2000; and what is his estimate of the cost. [15474]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is in the table.
Estimated cost and number of recipients if widows' benefits had been available to men Number of recipients Estimated cost (£ million) 1994–95 90,000 200 1995–96 90,000 200 1996–97 90,000 200 1997–98 90,000 250 1998–99 90,000 250 1999–2000 100,000 250 2000–01 100,000 300 Notes:
1. It is assumed that widowers' benefits were subject to the same overlapping benefit rules as widows' benefits.
2. No allowance is made for taxation effects, or for offsetting savings from reduced income-related benefit expenditure.
3. Costs are rounded to the nearest 50 million, recipients to the nearest 10,000.
Source:
Government Actuary Department estimates and DWP Policy Simulation Model.