Pensions

HC Deb 10 June 2002 vol 386 cc879-80W

Paul Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of the basic

£
	National pay range	Outer London pay range	Inner London pay range
	Minimum	Maximum	Minimum	Maximum	Minimum	Maximum
Administrative assistant	9,120	11,940	10,940	13,880	11,750	14,700
Administrative officer	11,020	14,710	12,920	16,880	13,720	17,700
Executive officer	14,770	19,920	16,050	21,860	16,850	22,680

state pension in (a) 2010, (b) 2020, (c) 2030, (d) 2040 and (e) 2050 if increased in line with (i) prices and (ii) earnings. [41194]

Mr. McCartney

The information requested is in the table.

Expenditure on basic state pension
£ billion
	Price up-rating	Earnings up-rating
2010	42.5	49
2020	46.5	63
2030	56.5	91
2040	61.5	118.5
2050	61	139

Notes:

1. Price up-rating column is consistent with Government policy of up-rating by 2.5 per cent. or inflation, whichever is the greater.

2. 2002–03 price terms.

3. Figures rounded to nearest £0.5 billion.

4. Based on figures supplied by Government Actuary's Department.

5. Real earnings growth from 2012–13 is assumed to be 1.75 per cent.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on paying pensions to retired employees of his Department in 2001–02; if he will estimate the corresponding amounts to be spent in(a) five years' time, (b) 10 years' time, (c) 20 years' time and (d) 30 years' time; if he will estimate in each case the proportion of such liabilities which will arise from (i) unfunded pension schemes and (ii) pre-funded pension schemes; and in the case of pre-funded schemes, if he will estimate the value of the corresponding pre-funded funds in each of these years. [57372]

Mr. McCartney

[holding answer 20 May 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Leslie) on 23 May 2002, Official Report, columns 561–63W.

David Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the starting salary is for a decision maker within the Department. [58606]

Mr. McCartney

[holding answer 23 May 2002]: The function of decision making is delegated by the Secretary of State to people in the Department who are suitably trained and have the requisite skills and experience to do the job. The salary for people making decisions is not decided directly by their role but by the normal rules governing salary progression. The salaries of people undertaking decision making duties will therefore depend upon their level of seniority and length of service and could be at any point on the salary scale.

The following table gives the lower and upper limits of the appropriate salary scales.