§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost in a financial year of increasing the state retirement pension for(a)single pensioners by (i) £5 for those aged up to 74 years, (ii) £10 for those aged 75 to 79 years, (iii) £15 for those aged 80 years and over and (b)for married pensioner couples by (i) £8 for those aged up to 74 years, (ii) £18 for those aged 75 to 79 years, and (iii) £28 for those aged 80 years and over per week. [45620]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 25 March 2002]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table:
Costs in 2002–03 of increasing the basic state retirement pension for single pensioners by the specified amounts or a proportion of the specified amounts Additional costs in 2002–03 £ Up to 74 years 420 million 75–79 years 540 million 80 years and over 1.33 billion Total cost 2.29 billion Notes:
1. Costs are in cash terms, rounded to the nearest £10 million, based on September 2001 GB administrative data.
2. Costs relate to recipients of category A, AB and B pensions only.
3. Figures represent the additional cost of introducing the principle set out in part (a)of the question rather than the stated increase in the basic state pension in 2002–03.
4. The costs are gross.