HC Deb 01 November 1994 vol 248 cc1071-2W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women aged 100 years and over are in receipt of a state retirement pension.

Mr. Arbuthnot

At 31 March 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 830 men and 6,640 women, aged 100 and over (figures include persons residing overseas) were in receipt of state retirement pension ("State Retirement Pension" means a contributory retirement pension, a non-contributory retirement pension or a graduated retirement benefit).

Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what he estimates will be the cost in a full year of raising the level of pension that may be received without affecting benefit from £35 to £50 a week combined with the removal of the age threshold; and how many people will benefit from this.

Mr. Roger Evans

Raising the level of occupational or personal pension that can be received without affecting a contribution-based job seeker's allowance from £35 to £50 per week, combined with removing the age threshold, would save around an estimated £10 million in a full year at current prices. It is estimated that around 15,000 claimants would gain through the raising of the abatement limit to £50.

Notes: 1. Estimates rounded to nearest £10 million and 5,000 cases. 2. Estimates assume:

  1. a. 2.55 million unemployed claimants (GB);
  2. b. 600,000 Unemployment Benefit claimants.
3. Losers are estimated using the Policy Simulation Model with 1990/91/92. Family Expenditure Survey data and 1994 Unemployment Benefit Statistics.

Mr. Dewar

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will give the latest cost of fully restoring the value of retirement pensions paid to United Kingdom citizens living abroad on the basis that the normal uprating had been paid as if the recipient had continued to live in this country;

(2) what would have been the cost of uprating the retirement pensions of United Kingdom citizens living abroad on the same basis as those pensions paid to those living in the United Kingdom in this financial year.

Mr. Arbuthnot

The estimated cost of paying fully indexed benefits to all people receiving state retirement and widows pensions living abroad whose benefits are not uprated is £230 million a year. The cost in the 1994–95 financial year of paying just the April 1994 uprating to these pensioners is estimated to be £16 million. Separate figures are not available on the cost of uprating benefits only for retirement pensioners or those who are citizens of the United Kingdom.