§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of holders of appropriate personal pensions who are contributing only their national insurance rebate; and if he will provide this information by relation to the income of the holder.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe information is not available in the form requested. The number of APP holders who made no contribution in addition to the DSS payment in the financial year 1992–93—the latest year for which figures are available—was 3,050,000. The number of individuals contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme into APP as at 31 March 1993 was 5,004,000.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of holders of appropriate personal pensions.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe answer is 4,993,930.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to ensure that those who are holders of appropriate personal pensions but who would be better off rejoining SERPS are advised to do so.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotAll new appropriate personal pension holders automatically receive a copy of the DSS leaflet "Making the most of your Personal Pension—PP2". The leaflet advises APP holders to monitor continually their pension arrangements in the light of any changes in their circumstances and that they should seek expert financial advice before coming to any decision on whether to alter those arrangements.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) women and (b) men applied to his Department requesting a projection of their future state pension entitlement in the last year for which figures are available; and how much it cost to provide.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 22 June at column 184.
Information regarding gender breakdown is not available.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of holders of appropriate personal pensions who have(a) reduced their contribution to the APP and (b) matched 1376W their contributions to their APP in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe information requested is not available.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of individuals who have opted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme for whom it would be financially beneficial to rejoin.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe information requested is not available. The decision whether to contract out of SERPS depends on an individual's circumstances. Any appropriate personal pension holder who is concerned that he or she may be better off by rejoining SERPS should contact his or her pension provider.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the projected average income for single(a) female and (b) male pensioners between 1994 and the year 2000 and the projected average full-time earnings over the same future period.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe information requested is not available.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will update the information on average pensions at retirement given in his answer of 5 May,Official Report, column 615;
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of holders of appropriate personal pensions who have rejoined SERPS in each of the past five years; and if he will provide this information by relation to the income of the holder.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotI will write to the hon. Member shortly.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) women and (b) men reaching retirement age in the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2020 the Government estimates will not qualify for a full basic state pension.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 21 June at column146.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of(a) the average amount total payment by employer and employees made on behalf of each member of occupational pension schemes and (b) what is the average annual total payment made by employers and employees on behalf of each member of personal pension schemes; and if he will publish a table indicating these average payments by relation to the income band of pension fund members.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotIn 1992–93 the average total amount paid by employers for each member of an occupational pension scheme was £1,700. The average total amount paid by each employee was £750.
The average annual total payment made by employers on behalf of each employee holding a personal pension was £90. The average annual total payment made by each employee was £670, including minimum contributions.
Information about average payments by relation to the income band of pension fund members is not available.
§ Sir Peter EmeryTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will, as a matter of urgency, seek to 1377W increase the extra pension payment to those who are over 80 years of age.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotI will write to my hon. Friend shortly.