§ Mrs. LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the status of the basic state pension within overall pension provision in the United Kingdom. [11701]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe basic state pension will remain the foundation of income in retirement. We have increased the rates above inflation this year and we will do so again next year.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 24 October 2001,Official Report, column 242W, on pensions, if he will provide quarterly figures on the sales of personal pensions for the last five years. [12449]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe information is in the table:
Thousand Time period Number of personal pension and Group Personal Pension contracts sold 1996 Qtr 1 254 Qtr 2 300 Qtr 3 247 Qtr 4 253 1997 Qtr 1 300 Qtr 2 398 Qtr 3 329 Qtr 4 279 1998 Qtr 1 360 Qtr 2 384 Qtr 3 318 Qtr 4 332 1999 Qtr 1 307 Qtr 2 327 Qtr 3 279 Qtr 4 271 2000 Qtr 1 251 Qtr 2 268 Qtr 3 234 Qtr 4 242 2001 Qtr 1 300 Qtr 2 314 Notes:
1. Figures sourced from the Association of British Insurers.
2. The figures include both single premium and regular premium pensions. They do not include additional voluntary contributions.