§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the total net cost, taking into account all offsetting benefit adjustments, of increasing the single person's basic state pension to(a) £90 per week, (b) £100 per week and (c) £110 per week, assuming the matching adjustments to pensions for couples; and if he will make a statement. [1378]
196W
Anti-social behaviour orders applied for and made between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2001 by police force area within England and Wales Number made from Police force area Number of applications to 31 March 20011,2 1 April 1999 to 31 Mar 20001 1 June 2000 to 31 March 20012 Total Avon and Somerset 13 9 4 13 Bedfordshire — — — — Cambridgeshire 5 5 — 5 Cheshire — — — — Cleveland 5 1 3 4 Cumbria 1 1 — 1 Derbyshire 11 3 8 11 Devon and Cornwall 3 1 2 3 Dorset 2 — 2 2 Durham 6 — 6 6
§ Mr. McCartneyWe are providing significant extra help for all pensioners, including a £200 winter fuel payment and a minimum income guarantee of more than £92 a week for single pensioners. We have increased the basic state pension by £5 a week for single people and £8 a week for couples. In total, we are spending £4.4 billion more on pensioners in 2001–02 alone as a result of the changes that we have introduced.
The table gives the cost of the options set out in the question in 2001–02 after income related benefit savings including linked benefits.
Basic state pension Net cost (£ billion) £90 per week 6.7 £100 per week 10.7 £110 per week 14.8 Notes:
1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion.
2. Costs are given in current price terms.
3. Net costs were estimated using the Policy Simulation Model.