§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has studied the state pension schemes in other European Economic Community countries with a view to the completion of the internal market in 1992; and if he will publish the comparable figures for retirement pensions for each of the European Economic Community countries for an adult male worker with a lifetime's contribution record.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe Department has kept itself informed about the pension schemes in other European Community countries, and since 1977 has published an annual review of the various schemes in the form of the "Tables of Social Benefit Systems in the European Communities", copies of which are in the Library.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing for each group listed in his answer of 14 November 1988, Official Report, columns 517–18, the number of state pensioners receiving income support; the total number of state pensioners in that group; and the cumulative cost at each incremental stage of increasing the level of income support for the elderly by six successive increments of £1 and £1.50 for singles and married couples.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe latest available estimates are as follows:
874W
Millions Number receiving Income Support and Retirement Pension Singles 1.27 Couples 0.20
Millions Number receiving Retirement Pension Singles 4.6 Couples 2.6
Cumulative costs (at 1989 rates) of increasing income-related benefits for those aged 60 and over by 6 successive increments of £1 for singles and £1.50 for couples Singles (£ million) £1 100 £2 200 £3 305 £4 410 £5 515 £6 620
Couples (£ million) £1.50 55 £3 110 £4.50 175 £6 240 £7.50 300 £9 360