§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the consequent savings in means-tested and other benefit expenditure if all pensioners were entitled to the basic retirement pension regardless of their contribution record. [46961]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 22 June 1998]: The information is set out in the table.
Savings in other benefits from giving full basic state pension of £64.70 to Great Britain residents aged over state pension age £billion National Insurance (contributory) benefit offsets 0.8 Means-tested benefit offsets 1.1 Gross additional Retirement Pension costs 6.2 Notes:
1. Amounts are in 1998/99 prices and are rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion.
2. National Insurance benefit costs and savings have been provided by the Government Actuary's Department.
3. Behavioural changes have not been allowed for, other than moves between National Insurance benefits.
4. Means-tested benefit offsets were calculated using the 1995/96 Family Resources Survey, and the May 1996 Quarterly Statistical Inquiry. Both models are uprated to 1998/99 prices, benefits and earnings levels, and calibrated to the forecasts underlying the 1998 Departmental Report.