HC Deb 29 November 1994 vol 250 cc630-1W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what level the £35 limit above which occupational pensions are deducted from unemployment benefit could be raised without the cost exceeding the estimated saving from extending such deductions to people aged under 55 years.

Mr. Roger Evans

Estimates of the precise level at which this occurs are not reliable as it is necessary to estimate the number of people who become entitled to contributory benefit because the limit has been raised, and estimating this number with accuracy becomes more difficult the higher the level of limit. However, it is estimated that the £35 per week limit above which occupational pensions are deducted from unemployment benefit could be raised to between £65 and £75.

Notes:

  1. 1. Estimates assumed 2.4 million unemployed claimants (GB) and 500,000 unemployment benefit claimants.
  2. 2. Estimate assumes that the job seeker's allowance has been introduced and in particular that contributory benefit for the unemployed lasts for six months.
  3. 3. Figure estimated using the PSM with 1990–91–92 FES data and 1994 unemployment benefit statistics.