§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants will receive no increase in their benefit following the adjustment being made due to the error in the retail prices index.
§ Mr. ScottIt is estimated that about 4.5 million people who receive a social security benefit that is affected by the error in the retail prices index will not be included in the February special payments exercise.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social services what would have been the additional cost of adjusting all benefits following the errors in the retail prices index.
§ Mr. ScottAs I announced in my statement to the House on 18 December, we estimate that £109 million will have been underspent as a result of the error in the calculation of the retail prices index. This is equal to the sum which will be disbursed in the form of special payments to social security beneficiaries and donations to charities. Administrative costs would have been considerably higher if we had attempted to calculate and pay each individual loss.