Minimum Income Guarantee

HC Deb 03 February 2000 vol 343 cc715-6W

Ms Perham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much he plans to raise the minimum income guarantee for the poorest pensioners this year. [106917]

Table 1: Costs of State Second Pension with different accrual rate options 1999–2000 prices
£ billion
	Percentage	2005	2010	2015	2025	2047
Pension expenditure costs
Accrual rate for years 2002–09	80	0.1	1.0	2.0	3.7	5.8
	70	0.1	0.7	1.5	2.8	4.4
	60	0.1	0.5	1.0	1.9	2.9
	50	0.0	0.2	0.5	1.0	1.4
Accrual rate for years 2002–10	80	0.1	1.0	2.1	4.1	6.5
	70	0.1	0.7	1.5	3.1	4.9
	60	0.1	0.5	1.0	2.0	3.3
	50	0.0	0.2	0.5	1.0	1.6
Accrual rate for years 2002–15	80	0.1	1.0	2.2	5.6	10.2
	70	0.1	0.7	1.7	4.2	7.6
	60	0.1	0.5	1.1	2.8	5.1
	50	0.0	0.2	0.6	1.4	2.5
Rebate costs
Accrual rate for years 2002–09	80	3.2	5.5	0.0	0.0	0.0
	70	2.4	4.1	0.0	0.0	0.0
	60	1.6	2.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
	50	0.8	1.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Accrual rate for years 2002–10	80	3.2	5.5	0.0	0.0	0.0
	70	2.4	4.1	0.0	0.0	0.0
	60	1.6	2.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
	50	0.8	1.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Accrual rate for years 2002–15	80	3.2	5.5	6.6	0.0	0.0
	70	2.4	4.1	4.9	0.0	0.0
	60	1.6	2.7	3.3	0.0	0.0
	50	0.8	1.4	1.6	0.0	0.0

Notes:

1. The figures are in £ billion and have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 billion.

2. The figures are gross figures. Offsetting Income-Related Benefits would reduce the pension expenditure costs by around 30 per cent. There would be no offset against the increased rebate costs.

3. The figures have been supplied by Government Actuary's Department.

Mr. Rooker

From this April, the minimum income guarantee will be increased in line with earnings, providing a single pensioner with at least £78.45 a week and pensioner couples with £121.95.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will establish an awareness campaign to ensure the take up of the minimum income guarantee by eligible pensioners in North Staffordshire. [108006]

Mr. Rooker

We are committed to taking action to find more effective ways of encouraging eligible pensioners to claim their entitlement to the minimum income guarantee. We will announce details of a national programme shortly.