HC Deb 16 December 1998 vol 322 cc611-2W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the effect of the introduction of an age addition of £3 in the basic state pension for those aged between 75 and 79 years and £5 in the basic state pension for those aged over 80, and corresponding increases in the rates of premiums for means-tested benefits on(a) gross benefits expenditure, (b) net benefits expenditure and (c) income tax revenues. [62870]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 8 December 1998]: The information is in the table.

Full year expenditure and revenue effects of age additions in 1999–2000
£ million
£5 age addition for 80 and over and £3 age addition for 75–79
Expenditure on Retirement Pension 910
Expenditure on means tested benefit 210
Net benefit cost 700
Income tax offsets -60

Notes:

1. Estimates for Retirement Pension have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

2. Estimates for income tax revenues have been provided by Inland Revenue.

3. Means-tested benefit expenditure has been estimated using the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1999–2000 prices and benefits levels.

4. Estimates are in 1999–2000 prices and benefit rates, and are rounded to the nearest 10 million.

5. + cost, — savings.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the effect of the introduction of an age addition to the basic state pension of £5 per week for those aged between 75 and 79 years and £10 per week for those aged over 80, on(a) gross benefits expenditure, (b) net benefits expenditure and (c) income tax revenues. [62871]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 8 December 1998]: The information requested is in the table.

Full year expenditure and revenue effects of age additions in 1999/2000
£ million
£10 age addition for 80 and over and £5 age addition for 75–79
Expenditure on Retirement Pension 1,760
Means-tested benefit offsets "580
Net benefit cost 1,180
Income tax offsets "120

Notes:

1. Estimates for Retirement Pension have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

2. Estimates for income tax revenues have been provided by Inland Revenue

3. Means-tested benefit offsets have been estimated using the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1999–2000 prices and benefits levels.

4. Estimates are in 1999–2000 prices and benefit rates, and are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

5. + costs, " savings.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his estimates based on Family Resources Survey 1996–97 of(a) median pensioner incomes, excluding means-tested benefits, by age, sex and marital status, consistent with his answer of 12 November 1998, Official Report, columns 295–98, and corresponding estimates of the size of each group, (b) non take-up of income support by pensioners in each age, sex and marital status group, consistent with his answer of 19 October 1998, Official Report, columns 597–98 (c) receipt of means-tested benefits and liability for income tax among pensioners, consistent with his answer of 5 November 1997, Official Report, columns 249–50 and (d) patterns of pensioner savings, consistent with his answer of 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 850–52. [63943]

Mr. Denham

The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.