§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the value of expenditure on(a) retirement pensions, (b) winter fuel payments, (c) means-tested benefits for pensioners, (d) all other benefits for pensioners and (e) free TV licences for 1996–97 and each succeeding year to the end of the public expenditure planning period, as a share of GDP. [116471]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is in the table.
personal pensions have been taken by the trustee in bankruptcy. These can include personal pensions that contain transfers from occupational pensions.
The Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 contains a measure to protect all tax-approved pensions on bankruptcy. Regulations are needed to give full effect to the measure and in order to allow for the preparation of the regulations, April 2001 has been chosen as the date for bringing the new measure into effect.
In Scotland it is estimated that the number of people who lose their personal pension on bankruptcy is around 375 a year. There is no reliable information for England and Wales.