HL Deb 26 April 1999 vol 600 cc12-3WA
Baroness Castle of Blackburn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What estimate they have made of the increased expenditure on means-tested benefits that will result from the halving next year of widow's and widower's additional pensions under SERPS. [HL1956]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

It is estimated that the increase in expenditure on the Minimum Income Guarantee and Housing Benefit in respect of widows and widowers over state pension age will be of the order of £50 million in 2010 and £300 million in 2025. Estimates for Council Tax Benefit are not available.

Notes

  1. 1. Estimates are based on a number of economic and behavioural assumptions and show the broad order of magnitude of future changes.
  2. 2. The estimates are rounded to the nearest £50 million.