§ Sir Archy KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the pension credit on the mean benefit income of single pensioners and couples in(a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06, by quintile. [90372]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe table provides our current assessment of the impact of pension credit in 2004–05 on the mean weekly benefit income of single adults of state pension age or over, and couples where the man is aged 65 or over. This chart includes pension credit direct effects only, and excludes any related increases in housing benefit or council tax benefit. Cases have been placed in overall population quintiles. Due to the uncertainties inherent in the predictions the results have been rounded to the nearest 50p.
£ Quintile Bottom Second Third Fourth Top Average Average weekly pension credit gain 6.50 7.00 3.50 1.50 0.50 4.50 The distributional impact of our policies is assessed by the Department, when it is appropriate and robust to do so, by using simulation modelling based on the family resources survey. At present the simulations are based on the 2000–01 survey sample and the departmental analysts do not regard projected distributional results for 2005–06 to be robust, nor results for 2004–05 analysed by family type. All projections of distributional consequences for 2004–05 are subject to a variety of assumptions and should be treated with caution.