HC Deb 20 April 2000 vol 348 cc605-7W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have been entitled to means-tested benefits in each of the past five years; how many are expected to be entitled to be means-tested benefits in each of the following five years; and what proportion those represent of total pensioners in each year. [119944]

Mr. Rooker

The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following tables.

Total of number of pensioner benefit units receiving and number entitled but not receiving means tested benefits in 1996–97
Number in millions As percentage of all pensioner benefit units
Income Support 2.0 to 2.3 26 to 29
Housing Benefit 1.9 to 2.1 24 to 27
Council Tax Benefit 3.4 to 3.9 43 to 50
Total of number of pensioner benefit units receiving and number entitled but not receiving means tested benefits in 1997–98
Number in millions As percentage of all pensioner benefit units
Income Support 2.0 to 2.3 25 to 29
Housing Benefit 1.8 to 2.1 23 to 26
Council Tax Benefit 3.2 to 3.8 41 to 48

Notes:

  1. 1. Estimates refer to pensioners in private households, in Great Britain
  2. 2. Self-employed pensioners are excluded from counts of benefit recipients and entitled non-recipients
  3. 3. Pensioner benefit units here include couples where either member is over 60
  4. 4. Estimates are presented as ranges because estimates of entitled non-recipients are in ranges.

Mr. Welsh

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of(a) removing the means test for benefits for pensioners and (b) keeping SERPS in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK. [119869]

Mr. Rooker

The cost of removing the means test for benefits for pensioners depends on what assumptions are made. The net cost of uprating the basic State Pension to the level of the Minimum Income Guarantee is around £4.5 billion, excluding the effect on linked benefits. Retaining SERPS in preference to the State Second Pension would result in a cost saving because the State Second Pension will be more generous to some 18 million low and moderate earners, carers and long-term disabled people with broken work records. Estimates apply to Great Britain. Separate costs for Scotland are not available.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the proposed pensioners tax credit; and when it will come into force. [119971]

Mr. Rooker

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Budget Statement, proposed that the pensioner credit should be introduced in the next Parliament.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) of 17 April 2000,Official Report, columns 401-02W, on pensions, if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on pensioners as a proportion of GDP in each year from 1979–80 to 1990–91. [120239]

Mr. Rooker

The information is in the table.

Expenditure on people over 60 as a percentage of all social security benefit expenditure and as a percentage of GDP
Expenditure as a percentage of:
Year Expenditure (cash £ million) All expenditure GDP
1979–80 10,138 53.99 4.91
1989–81 12,134 53.55 5.15
1981–82 14,357 51.83 5.56
1982–83 16,105 50.92 5.70
1983–84 17,456 49.41 5.70
1984–85 18,496 48.39 5.61
1985–86 20,172 48.38 5.58
1986–87 21,697 48.31 5.58
1987–88 22,866 48.97 5.32
1988–89 23,652 49.97 4.94
Expenditure on people over 60 as a percentage of all social security benefit expenditure and as a percentage of GDP
Expenditure as a percentage of:
Year Expenditure (cash £ million) All expenditure GDP
1989–90 25,715 51.25 4.92
1990–91 28,490 50.42 5.06

Notes:

  1. 1. Expenditure figures are consistent with Table 3 of the 2000 Departmental Report (Cm 4614) and earlier equivalents.
  2. 2. Social Security benefit expenditure includes non-Departmental funded expenditure on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and earlier equivalents.