§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will give the latest annualised cost of means-tested benefits for those also in receipt of a retirement pension, broken down by(a) minimum income guarantee payments, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit,(d) disability benefits and (e) other benefits. [23329]
§ Mr. McCartney[holding answer 18 December 2001]: Forecast expenditure for 2001–02 on income-related benefits for the pensioner group1 is given in the table:
£million2 Minimum income guarantee3 4,530 Housing benefit 4,460 Council tax benefit 1,390 Social fund 35 Total 10,415 1Statistics for the pensioner group in income-related benefit include benefit units in which the claimant is a man aged 60–64 as well as those in which the claimant is over pension age. 2Figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million and are consistent with social security totals published in the pre-Budget Report 2001. 3 Expenditure on minimum income guarantee includes premiums related to disability where relevant.