§ Mr. WebbTo ask 1 he Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of(a) raising the annual Christmas bonus to £79.60, (b) giving a winter fuel payment of £300 to every household with a member over 60 years and (c) giving a free television licence to every household with a member over 60 years. [187831]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is in the table.
Proposal Estimated cost in 2004–05 £million) Raising the Christmas Bonus to £79.60 1,010 Giving a Winter Fuel Payment of £300 to every household with a member over 60 years 860 Giving a free television licence to every household with a member over 60 years 710 Notes: 1. All figures relate to GB payments only, are in 2004–05 price terms and are rounded to the nearest 10 million. 2. The Christmas Bonus is currently paid to people in receipt of a number of qualifying benefits, some of whom are of working age. These people are assumed to receive the Christmas Bonus at the new rate. 3. Estimated costs for giving Winter Fuel Payments of £300 to every household with a member over 60 years are based on the 2003–04 Pensioner Household data set which is derived from the 2003–04 Winter Fuel Payment administrative data set. 4. Estimated costs for free TV licences are based on the 2002–03 Family Resources and expenditure forecasts produced by the Department's Benefit and Forecasting Model Development Division.