HC Deb 11 March 1994 vol 239 c409W
Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of continuing family credit and disability working allowance towards an individual's SERPS entitlement in the years(a) 2000, (b) 2010, (c) 2025 and (d) 2035;

(2) what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of (i) men and (ii) women who will see an increase in their SERPS entitlement as a result of counting family credit and disability working allowance awards towards SERPS in (1) 2000, (2) 2010, (3) 2025 and (4) 2035.

Mr. Hague

The Government Actuary's Department project that expenditure will graually build up to about £0.1 billion in 2035. This figure must be treated with caution as it is based on current family credit and disability working allowance caseloads and does not allow for any future growth in the take-up of these benefits.

Modelling of the costs of this measure does not track the cumulative effect on individuals over time and so it is not possible to provide an estimate of numbers of beneficiaries. Most families and disabled people who receive family credit/disability working allowance—approximately 0.5 million at present—should be helped by this measure.

2035. Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of extending home responsibilities protection to SERPS entitlements in the years(a) 2000, (b) 2010, (c) 2025 and (d)

Mr. Hague

The Government Actuary's Department estimates the cost of extending home responsibilities protection to SERPS as about £0.5 billion in 2010, rising to about £1.5 billion in 2035.