§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the cost of increasing the basic pension, widows' benefits and long-term incapacity benefit in April 1998 in line with prices; and what would be the additional cost of increasing them in line with average earnings. [26467]
623W
§ Mr. DenhamThe information requested is set out in the table. The estimated gross additional cost for uprating basic pension and all linked benefits by earnings would be £200 million, rounded to the nearest £10 million.
Cost of the April 1998 RPI uprating £ million Benefit Cost 1998–99 Retirement pension:basic 1.1 Widows' benefit: basic 30 Incapacity benefit long term: basic 200 Notes:
1. The table shows the costs of uprating for the three contributory benefits only and does not show any associated costs or savings on means-tested benefits.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
Source:
DSS forecasting models based on benefit rates announced in the 1977 Uprating Statement.