HC Deb 30 April 1980 vol 983 cc521-2W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the savings if all national insurance, excluding means-tested benefits, were increased by 11 per cent. next November; and if he will publish figures tabulating those savings according to main benefit categories and also by comparison with the savings proposed in the Social Security (No. 2) Bill.

Mrs. Chalker

Column 1 of the table below gives the savings to the national insurance fund in a full year if the current rates of the benefits listed were to be increased by 11 per cent. instead of 16½ per cent. The net reduction in public expenditure would depend on the amount by which means-tested benefits were increased. Column 2 gives the savings to the fund in a full year from uprating the current rates of the benefits specified in clause 1 of the Social Security (No. 2) Bill 1980 by 11½ per cent., instead of 16½ per cent., under the powers contained in that clause.

Column 1 Full year difference between 11 and 16½ per cent. increase in current rates Column 2 Full year savings to National Insurance Fund under clause 1 of the Social Security (No. 2) Bill 1980; difference between 11½ per cent. and 16½ per cent. increase
£million £million
Retirement pension 545
Widows benefit 32
Invalidity benefit 62 55