§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compare the net weekly spending power of two single pensioners, both with rent and rates of £25 per week, one with a private pension of £15 a week, and the other dependent on supplementary pension; and if he will tabulate these figures showing tax liability and entitlement to means-tested benefits.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1982, c. 20]: The information given in the tables has been calculated on the following assumptions.
- 1. the pensioner is a householder living alone in local authority accommodation;
- 2. the pensioner is aged under 70 years and does not qualify for any additional heating addition to supplementary pension;
- 3. the total weekly rent and rates of £25 (about £10 above the average for supplementary benefit recipients) is split between £17.50 rent, £6.20 general rates and £1.30 water rates.
- 4. no additions to retirement pension, for graduated contribution, or earnings related additional component, are payable; and
- 5. there are no special circumstances which would result in additions to the basic supplementary benefit rate.
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TABLE 1 Single retirement pensioner in receipt of flat-rate retirement pension and a private pension of £15 per week £ 1. Retirement pension 32.85 2. Private pension 15.00 3. Tax 2.41 4. Rent 17.50 5. Rent rebate 9.40 6. General rates 6.20 7. Rate rebate 3.33 8. Water rates 1.30
£ 9. Net weekly spending power numbers (1 + 2 + 5 + 7) - (3 + + 4 + 6 + 8) 33.17
TABLE 2 Single retirement pensioner in receipt offlat-rate retirement pension and receiving supplementary pension £ 1. Retirement pension 32.85 2. Tax — 3. Housing benefit 23.70 4. Supplementary benefit 1.15 5. Rent 17.50 6. General rates 6.20 7. Water rates 1.30 8. Net weekly spending power numbers (1 + 3 + 4) - (5 + 6 + 7) 32.70