Pensioners Benefits (Hansard, 12 February 2002)

HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc254-5W 254W

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the value of expenditure(a) in cash terms, (b) in current prices and (c) as a share of GDP on (i) retirement pensions, (ii) winter fuel payments, (iii) means-tested benefits for pensioners, (iv) all other benefits for pensioners and (v) free TV licences for 1992–93 and each succeeding year to the end of the public expenditure planning period. [35290]

§ Mr. McCartney
The information is in the tables:
255W

Real terms

£ million 2001–02 prices

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98

Retirement pensions 33,345 34,340 34,565 35,030 36,250 36,880

Winter fuel payments 0 0 0 0 0 210

Means-tested benefits for pensioners¹ 9,075 9,805 10,015 9,925 9,730 9,475

All other benefits for pensioners² 6,000 6,685 6,860 7,100 7,205 7,015

Concessionary TV licences 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 48,420 50,835 51,440 52,055 53,185 53,585

£ million 2001–02 prices

1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

Retirement pensions 38,035 39,430 39,795 42,035 43,270 44,210

Winter fuel payments 210 950 1,725 1,700 1,660 1,635

Means-tested benefits for pensioners¹ 9,165 9,345 9,730 10,375 10,140 11,035

All other benefits for pensioners² 6,885 6,730 6,960 7,035 7,025 7,110

Concessionary TV licences 0 0 330 345 355 360

Total 54,295 56,455 58,535 61,495 62,455 64,355

¹ Figures for mean-tested benefits for the pensioner group include payments made to those aged 60 to 65.

² 'All other benefits for pensioners' includes payments of disability and bereavement benefits and Christmas bonus to those of pension age.

Notes:

1. Amounts are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

2. Totals may not appear to sum due to rounding.

Percentage of GDP

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98

Retirement pensions 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1

Winter fuel payments 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Means-tested benefits for pensioners 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.0

All other benefits for pensioners 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

Concessionary TV licences ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Total 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.1 6.1 5.9

Percentage of GDP

1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

Retirement pensions 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.2

Winter fuel payments 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Means-tested benefits for pensioners 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1

All other benefits for pensioners 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7

Concessionary TV licences ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Total 5.9 5.9 6.0 6.2 6.1 6.2

¹ Less than 0.1 per cent.