§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the gross additional cost of increasing the period from six to 12 weeks would be before cutting the retirement pension of pensioners who become in-patients; and what the cost would be net of other benefit savings.
(2) how many (a) retirement pensioners and (b) dependants of retirement pensioners had their retirement pension reduced after staying in hospital for more than six weeks in 1990–91;
(3) what was the net saving to his Department in 1990–91 from reducing retirement pensions to pensioners or their dependants who became hospital in-patients for in excess of six weeks.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information is not available in the form requested. Statistics show the percentage rate by which the pension is reduced rather when it is reduced. Furthermore, data on the number of pensioners whose pensions have been reduced is available only on the basis of the number of reductions being made at specified dates during the year—31 March and 30 September. Separate information on dependants of retirement pensioners is not collected.
At 30 September 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of pensioners whose retirement pensions were being reduced as a result of receiving in-patient treatment under the national health service was 55,700.