§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to reduce the qualifying age for the higher pensioner premium from 80 to 75 years; and what will be the cost, assuming no change in the amount of the premium.
§ Mr. ScottTo reduce the qualifying age for the higher pensioner premium from 80 to 75 years, assuming no change in the amount of the premium would have an estimated cost, at 1989–90 benefit rates, of £80 million for income support and £25 million for housing benefit. There has been no decision to change the qualifying conditions for any income support premium. If such a decision were to be made, it would be announced at the appropriate time.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receive the higher pensioner premium and how many more would receive it if the qualifying age were reduced to 75 years.
§ Mr. ScottAt present, an estimated 550,000 people get the higher pensioner premium. Latest estimates indicate that if the qualifying age for the premium were reduced to 75, and additional 445,000 income support recipients would receive it.