§ Mr. O'HaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total cost to the Government of paying a SERPS widow's/widower's pension to any person bereaved after 6 April 2000 broken down into the following groups(a) based on 100 per cent. of the amount accrued for any contributions made between 6 April 1978 and the Royal Assent of the Social Security Act 1986, (b) based on 75 per cent. of the amount accrued for any contributions made between the Royal Assent of the Social Security Act 1986 and (i) 5 April 1996 and (ii) 5 April 1999 and (c) based on 50 per cent. of the amount accrued for any contributions made (1) since 6 April 1996 and (2) since 6 April 1999. [86048]
§ Mr. TimmsThe information is in the table.
The additional costs of the two options specified compared to current legislation £ million Year (a),(b)(1),(c)(1) (a), (b)(ii),(c)(2) 2000 50 50 2010 950 950 2020 1,650 1,700 2030 1,850 1,900 2040 1,550 1,650 2050 950 1,000 Notes:
1. The figures are supplied by the Government Actuary's Department.
2. The figures are in 1999–2000 price terms and are rounded to the nearest £50 million. They represent gross costs excluding income-related benefit offsets.
3. The figures include SERPS paid to widows below State Pension age, but do not take account of the proposed bereavement benefit changes currently before Parliament.
4. Real earnings growth of 1.5 per cent. has been assumed.