§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the impact on the uprating of the basic state weekly pension for(a) single person and (b) a couple of a 3 per cent. change in the value added tax rate on domestic fuel. [11789]
§ Mr. DenhamThe change in the VAT rate on domestic fuel will have no impact on the real value of the basic state pension.
We are committed to uprating the basic state pension at least in line with prices and will consider the uprating of benefits at the normal time and in the normal way.
All pensioners will benefit from the reduction in their fuel bills following the reduction in the VAT rate on domestic fuel from 8 to 5 per cent.