§ Mr. Woodhouseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of increasing the minimum weekly income of a single pensioner aged under 80 years, who has no other resources apart from the State retirement pension, from £7.15 to £10;
(2) what is the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of increasing the minimum weekly income of a married couple, who have no other resources apart from their State retirement pension, from £11.25 to £16.
§ Mr. DeanThe cost of raising supplementary and other benefits and pensions to £10 for a single person and £16 for a married couple would be nearly £2,000 million a year. The cost to the Exchequer ignoring increased income tax revenue, would be about £450 million a year.