HC Deb 10 June 1999 vol 332 c383W
Mr. O'Hara

To 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. Timms

The 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.