HC Deb 22 May 2000 vol 350 c377W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are still waiting to receive their correct pension as a result of the problems with the NIRS2 computer system; and how much compensation has been paid to(a) pensioners and (b) pension companies as a result of these computer problems.[121037]

Mr. Rooker

The number of pension cases waiting to be reviewed is 128,000.

As at 31 March 2000, £2,125,147 compensation has been paid to retirement pensioners because of the delayed implementation of NIRS2.

Compensation to pension companies amounts to £44.3 million for scheme members owing to the late payment of their age-related rebates for the 1997–98 tax year. In addition, £52,215 has been paid for work they undertook to modify their IT systems so as to minimise the impact that incorrect payments of rebates generated by NIRS2 would have on their customers' investments.

The Benefits Agency will complete its review of the Retirement Pension claims affected by the delayed implementation of NIRS2 by the end of this year.