Pensions (Hansard, 4 April 1995)

§ Mrs. Helen Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases in 1994 individuals were precluded from receiving payment of their retirement pension because of late application, under regulation I9(6)(b) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments Regulations) 1987. [17487]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Rowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the total population was old age pensioners in each year since 1974; and what assessment he has made of the relationship between the increase in benefit expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product from 1974–75 to 1994–95 and the increase in the percentage of old age pensioners in the population. [17679]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
The information is in the table. The data indicate that, although the number of people over state pension age as a percentage of the population of Great Britain has increased slightly over the period, this has not been the most significant factor in the increase in benefit expenditure as a percentage of GDP.
1071W

Total benefit expenditure £ billion¹ Money GDP £ billion² Benefit expenditure as percentage of GDP Population of Great Britain (000s)³ Number over state pension age in Great Britain (000s) Number over state pension age as percentage of population

1991–92 66.1 580.8 11.38 56,207 10,356 18.42

1992–93 75.2 604.8 12.43 56,388 10,380 18.41

1993–94 82.4 639.0 12.90 56,559 10,391 18.37

¹ 1995 Social Security Departmental report and earlier equivalents.

² "Financial Statement and Budget Report", 1995–96.

³ Population figures supplied by Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (England and Wales) and General Register Office(Scotland). Population figures for 1994–95 are as yet unavailable.

§ Mr. Dewar
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current cost, gross and net, of increasing the basic state pension by £1 for a single pensioner and pro rata for a pensioner couple. [17688]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
The estimated cost for 1995–96 is £480 million gross¹ and £350 million net². ¹ GB and overseas costs. ² Offsetting effects on income-related benefits.

§ Mrs. Helen Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many instances in 1994 women failed to claim their retirement pension on reaching the age of 60 years in the last year. [17486]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
The information is not available in the form requested. For the year ended March 1995, approximately 113,000 invitations to claim retirement pension were issued to men and women which did not result in a claim for benefit. These invitations are issued as a matter of course to people with potential entitlement to retirement pension as their 60th or 65th birthday approaches and, if they then fail to claim, again five years later.

	Total benefit expenditure £ billion¹	Money GDP £ billion²	Benefit expenditure as percentage of GDP	Population of Great Britain (000s)³	Number over state pension age in Great Britain (000s)	Number over state pension age as percentage of population
1991–92	66.1	580.8	11.38	56,207	10,356	18.42
1992–93	75.2	604.8	12.43	56,388	10,380	18.41
1993–94	82.4	639.0	12.90	56,559	10,391	18.37
¹ 1995 Social Security Departmental report and earlier equivalents.
² "Financial Statement and Budget Report", 1995–96.
³ Population figures supplied by Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (England and Wales) and General Register Office(Scotland). Population figures for 1994–95 are as yet unavailable.