§ Mr. MacDougallTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to review the state pension system. [42398]
§ Maria EagleWe have consulted extensively on both the state and private pension systems since we launched our pensions review in 1997. Our proposals for reform were set out in the Green Paper Partnership in Pensions published in December 1998 and this was followed by further consultations on specific issues, including our proposals for the new pension credit.
Our pensions strategy is to combat poverty among today's pensioners, and to help future pensioners build up a good second pension to ensure a decent income in retirement.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) male and (b) female UK residents experienced a reduction in basic state pension on reaching retirement age on account of insufficient contributions in each of the last five years. [42634]
§ Malcolm Wicks[holding answer 13 March 2002]: The information is not available in the format requested.
Recently retired pensioners receiving less than full basic pension in Great Britain—September 2001.
- Males—38,300
- Females—120,600
Notes:
1. The figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. All data from 5 per cent. samples are subject to sampling error.
3. Recently retired have been taken as men aged 65 and women aged 60.
4. Category A pensions only have been used for this analysis.
Source:
5 per cent. sample from the pension strategy computer system at 30 September 2001.
Caseload (000) Appeals lodged Cleared at hearing Found in favour Percentage found in favour 1 January 1999–31 December 19999 2,275.3 60,505 68,130 27,605 40.5 1 January 2000–31 December 2000 2,286.2 51,320 41,445 16,740 40.4 1 January 2001–30 November 2001 2,337.8 46,485 31,900 13,330 41.8