§ Mr. Martin BellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the proposed increase to be paid to existing state pensioners were to be applied to men aged 60 to 65 years, how much that pension would be for(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [147845]
§ Mr. RookerMen currently do not receive a basic State Retirement Pension before the age of 65 years and entitlement is dependent upon the individual's National Insurance record. It would not be dependent upon the numbers of pensioners.
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the basic State Pension in 2040 as a percentage of(a) full-time average earnings in 2040, (b) male full-time average earnings in 2040 and (c) female full-time average earnings in 2040, (i) before the changes announced in the pre-Budget statement and (ii) following the changes in the pre-Budget statement assumptions on price and wage inflation. [148375]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 2 February 2001]: The information is in the table.
The assumed value of the basic State Pension as a proportion of average full time earnings, before and after the changes announced in the pre-Budget report (PBR)—2040–41 Percentage Before PBR After PBR Average earnings 9 10 Average male earnings 8 9 Average female earnings 11 12 Notes:
1.Projected average earnings figures are based on the New Earnings Survey 2000.
2.The future value of the basic State Pension is based on pre-Budget report assumptions.
3. Long-term real earnings growth is assumed to be 1.5 per cent.
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