§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of(a) delaying the halving of the additional pension payments for widows whose spouse dies after 5 April 2000 until 2010, (b) delaying the reduction of the additional pension payments for widows whose spouse dies after 5 April 2000 and instead reducing the payments by 10 per cent. each year until 2004 and (c) delaying the reduction of the additional pension payments for widows whose spouse dies after 5 April 2000 until 2010 and then reducing the payments by 10 per cent. each year up until 2014. [75664]
§ Mr. Timms[holding answer 9 March 1999]: The information is in the table.
£ million Cumulative cost Continuing cost per annum 2000–09 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 (a) 5,620 1,130 740 350 110 20 (b) 1,710 180 110 50 10 0 (c) 5,620 1,190 950 470 150 30 Notes:
1. Costs are supplied by the Government Actuary's Department.
2. No allowance has been made for income related benefit offsets.
3. Costs are rounded to nearest £10 million and are presented in 1998–99 benefit rates.
4. Costs include SERPS pension paid to widows and widowers above the state pension age and to widows below state pension age.
5. The estimates are based on current legislation.
6. Real earnings growth of 1.5 per cent. has been assumed.