HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc57-8W
Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost, after taking into account the savings on supplementary benefit, of doubling the age addition to 50p per week; and how many people would benefit.

Mrs. Chalker

If the age addition were increased to 50p a week for retirement pension only, and not for supplementary pension, some 1.1 million pensioners would benefit at a cost of £15½ million a year, net of supplementary benefit savings. But if, as now, the age addition were at the same rates both for retirement pension and supplementary pension, the increase to 50p a week would benefit 1.5 million pensioners at a cost of just over £21 million a year.

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