§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the annual cost of making a weekly payment to all pensioners equal to half the difference between £10 and any additional component, guaranteed minimum pension, or graduated pension they may have.
§ Mr. MajorThe estimated additional annual cost of this proposal to public expenditure is £2,250 million.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average level of state earnings-related pension scheme additional component and of the guaranteed minimum pension each year since 1978; and what has been the level at 1985–86 prices for each of these years and for each year to 1998 on the basis of the Government Actuary's current assumptions; what has been, and what will be, the number of pensioners involved for each of these years; and what has been, and what is forecast to be total public expenditure on both these criteria.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.