Retirement Pensions

HC Deb 11 May 2004 vol 421 cc287-8W

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of abolishing the requirement on recipients of retirement pensions to have made national insurance contributions for at least 25 per cent, of their working life. [172432]

Malcolm Wicks

The information is not available in the format requested.

However, we estimate that it would cost around £95 million in 2004–05 if recipients of graduated retirement pension and/or additional pension were to be paid basic state pension where they have less than 25 per cent, of the required qualifying years.

Notes:

1. The estimated cost has been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

2. As data are not available on the individual contribution records of those people who have contributed for less than 25 per cent, of their working life, the estimate is based on the assumption that nine years national insurance contributions have been paid, or credited, thus the estimate is the maximum potential cost.

3. The figures are for Great Britain and overseas.