HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc250-1W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the 2001 pre-Budget report, if he will estimate the distribution by household income quintile of the additional expenditure arising from the introduction of the state pension credit. [31283]

Mr. McCartney

[holding answer 29 January 2002]: The information requested is in the table.

Proportion of additional expenditure arising form the introduction of the State Pension Credit by household income quintile
Percentage
Household income quintile Proportion of additional expenditure from State Pension Credit (after housing costs quintiles) Proportion of additional expenditure from State Pension Credit (before housing costs quintiles)
Lowest 30 35
2 48 43
3 16 15
4 5 5
Highest 1 0
All 100 100

Notes:

  1. 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent.
  2. 2. The largest proportion of expenditure goes to households in the second quintile because there are more pensioner benefit units in the second household income quintile.

Source:

DWP Policy Simulation Model 2001–02 based on 1999–2000 Family Resources Survey.

Pension credit will help tackle poverty among today's pensioners, without discouraging future pensioners from saving. It will provide a decent income in retirement and a reward for those who have saved.

For the first time, we will reward savings, ensuring those who have worked hard to save modest amounts, who are more likely to be in the second quintile, will gain from having done so.