§ Mr. AlexanderTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the annual cost of(a) administering weekly payments in cash for State Pensions, including payments to the Post Office and (b) making payments of pensions to pensioners by Automated Credit Transfer. [153753]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is not available in the format requested.
From available information we are able to estimate that the total annual cost for 1999–2000 of the respective methods of payment for Retirement Pension and Widows Benefit customers (the relevant data are not collated separately) was as follows:
£ million Automated Credit Transfer 11 Order Book 167 Giro 1 1 In the region of
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total annual cost to public funds if, on the death of a spouse, the surviving widow or widower were to receive their deceased spouse's full State Pension for a period of 90 days following bereavement. [155878]
§ Mr. RookerIn 2001–02, widows and widowers of pensionable age will continue to be able to inherit both basic State Pension and gross additional pension (SERFS) at up to 100 per cent. of their deceased spouse's entitlement. The additional annual cost of paying inherited graduated Retirement Pension at 100 per cent. instead of 50 per cent. for 90 days following bereavement is estimated to be £3 million.
Note:
Estimates provided by the Government Actuary's Department and rounded to nearest £1 million.