HC Deb 29 January 1996 vol 270 cc588-90W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the average level of state pension, the cost per head of the total population and the proportion of total Government expenditure required for state pensions for(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France, (c) Italy, (d) the Netherlands, (e) Singapore, (f) Japan, (g) Australia and (h) New Zealand. [11524]

Mr. Heald

Comparable information on state pensions is not available in the format requested and could he provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information on retirement pensions in EU member states is contained in the "MISSOC" tables, "Social Protection in the Member States of the Community". published by the European Commission, and in the Eurostat publication "Digest of statistics on social protection in Europe Volume 1: Old Age." Information on old-age pensions in Australia may be found in comparative tables of social security schemes, published by the Council of Europe. Information about state pensions in Japan and New Zealand and old-age benefits in Singapore are in "Social Security Programs Throughout the World", published by Social Security Administration, USA.

Copies of the publications referred to above are in the Library.

£ per week
Basic rates of retirement pension Value of RP at April 1975 prices Rate of RP if uprated by earnings since November 1979
Single Couple Single Couple Single Couple
April 1975 11.6 18.50 11.60 18.50
November 1975 13.30 21.20 11.91 18.98
November 1976 15.30 24.50 11.91 19.08
November 1977 17.50 28.00 12.06 19.29
November 1978 19.50 31.20 12.43 19.89
November 1979 23.30 37.30 12.65 20.26 23.30 37.30
November 1980 27.15 43.45 12.79 20.46 27.60 44.20
November 1981 29.60 47.35 12.45 19.92 30.75 49.25
November 1982 32.85 52.55 13.01 20.80 33.35 53.40
November 1983 34.05 54.50 12.86 20.58 36.25 58.05
November 1984 35.80 57.30 12.88 20.62 38.05 60.95
November 1985 38.30 61.30 13.07 20.91 41.35 66.25
July 1986 38.70 61.95 12.99 20.79 43.15 69.15
April 1987 39.50 63.25 12.70 20.33 45.55 73.00
April 1988 41.15 65.90 12.73 20.38 49.10 78.70
April 1989 43.60 69.80 12.48 19.98 53.45 85.70
April 1990 46.90 75.10 12.27 19.65 58.65 94.05
April 1991 52.00 83.25 12.79 20.47 64.20 102.95
April 1992 54.15 86.70 12.77 20.44 69.25 111.05
April 1993 56.10 89.80 13.06 20.90 72.65 116.50
April 1994 57.60 92.10 13.07 20.90 74.75 119.85
April 1995 58.85 94.10 12.93 20.67 77.75 124.65
April 1996 61 15 97.75 80.25 128.65

1. The values of RP uprated by earnings have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence.

2. The retail price index (all items), and the average earnings index (Whole economy unadjusted) as published by the central statistical office.

3. It is not yet possible to provide a figure for the April 1996 RP rates at 1975 levels.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the average level of pension expectation for holders of SERPS since 1978 in cash terms and at 1978 prices. [11547]

Mr. Heald

The amount of additional pension depends on the number of years a person has contributed to SERPS and their earnings in each year. The table shows entitlement to additional pension for men on average male earnings and women on average female earnings who have contributed to SERPS in each year since 1978–79 and who reached pension age in the year shown in the left-hand column.

Additional Pension for a person on average earnings since 1978–79
£ per week
At award At 1995–96 prices At November 1978 prices
Pension age reached in: Men Women Men Women Men Women
1991–92 42.30 25.30 47.40 28.40 16.30 9.80
1992–93 49.80 29.90 53.70 32.20 18.50 11.10
1993–94 56.90 34.50 59.20 35.90 20.40 12.40
1994–95 63.70 38.90 65.10 39.70 22.40 13.70
1995–96 69.70 42.80 69.70 42.80 24.00 14.80

All figures are rounded to the nearest ten pence.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the cash level of the state pension for each year since 1975 and its value in 1975 prices; and if he will estimate the value since 1980 if the rate had been linked to earnings. [11525]

Mr. Heald

The available information is in the table.