§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the likely impact on the national insurance fund of the appeal to the Court of Appeal in the case of Secretary of State for Social Security and Rose Graham if the appeal by the Secretary of State is dismissed: and how these figures are affected by the announcement on 30 November that the retirement age for both sexes is to be equalised at age 65.
§ Mr. HagueThe effect on the national insurance fund would depend on the precise terms of the ruling. The latest estimates are shown in the table. Under our proposals, the phased implementation of equal state pension ages will not begin until 2010, and will not affect these estimates.
Estimated cost to National Insurance Fund4 Financial year £ million 1993–94 2105 1994–95 80 11995–96 3100 1 Estimates for later years are not available. 2 Estimates for 1993–94 include arrears from 1 April 1992, the date of the commissioner's decision. 3 Estimates for 1995–96 take account of the proposed introduction of incapacity benefit from April 1995. 4All estimates are expressed in constant 1994–95 benefit rates, and are rounded to the nearest £5 million.