HC Deb 29 July 1998 vol 317 cc328-9W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of the population claiming social security benefits have(a) never paid national insurance contributions and (b) not paid sufficient national insurance contributions to qualify for the contributory benefit claimed; and if he will quantify the total expenditure for (a) and (b) for (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98 and the estimated expenditure for (1) 1998–99, (2) 1990–2000, (3) 2000–01 and (4) 2001–02. [52545]

Mr. Denham

The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those over the retirement age have(a) not paid any national insurance contributions and (b) paid insufficient to qualify for a full contributory pension. [52526]

Mr. Denham

The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

There are 10.4 million people over pension age residing in Great Britain. Of these 6.7 million receive a full contributory pension based on either their own or their spouse's contributions, and 3.3 million receive a pension at less than the full rate.

Sources:

1. 5 per cent. sample of the Pensions Strategy Computer System, at September 1997

2. Population projections at June 1997 produced by the Government Actuary's Department.

Great Britain—class 1 and class 1A national insurance contributions
£billion
Cash terms June 1997 prices
Year Employee Class 1 Employer Class 1A Total Employee Class 1 Employer Class 1A Total
1982–83 8.3 12.2 0.0 20.5 16.4 24.3 0.0 40.7
1983–84 9.2 12.1 0.0 21.3 17.5 22.9 0.0 40.4
1984–85 9.9 11.9 0.0 21.8 17.9 21.6 0.0 39.4
1985–86 10.7 12.4 0.0 23.1 18.3 21.1 0.0 39.4
1986–87 11.5 13.5 0.0 25.0 19.0 22.3 0.0 41.3
1987–88 12.6 15.0 0.0 27.5 20.0 23.8 0.0 43.8
1988–89 13.9 17.0 0.0 30.9 20.9 25.4 0.0 46.3
1989–90 14.4 19.1 0.0 33.5 20.0 26.6 0.0 46.7
1990–91 14.3 20.9 0.0 35.2 18.1 26.5 0.0 44.6
1991–92 14.9 21.8 0.0 36.7 18.1 26.4 0.0 44.5
1992–93 15.2 22.2 0.4 37.8 17.8 26.1 0.5 44.4
1993–94 15.2 23.6 0.4 39.2 17.5 27.3 0.5 45.3
1994–95 17.8 23.4 0.5 41.6 20.0 26.3 0.6 46.8
1995–96 19.0 24.4 0.5 43.9 20.7 26.5 0.5 47.7
1996–97 19.5 25.7 0.5 45.7 20.7 27.3 0.5 48.5
1997–98 21.3 27.1 0.5 48.8 21.9 27.8 0.5 50.3

Notes:

1. Figures may not sum to totals shown due to rounding

2. Class 1A figures are in respect of employers only

Source:

Government Actuary's Department

Forward to