HC Deb 24 July 2002 vol 389 cc1542-3W
Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to what extent he has conformed to Criterion 6 of Cabinet Office guidelines on written consultations in relation to his consultation on the pension statement; and if he will make a statement. [54230]

Mr. McCartney

We aim to follow Cabinet Office guidance on all written consultation where appropriate.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72068]

Mr. McCartney

The titles, start and end dates of public consultations commenced by Department for Work and Pensions since 1 April 2002 are listed in the table. They can all be found on www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2002/index.htm

Besides giving general information, it also advises people who are thinking of moving abroad to get leaflet GL29 "Going abroad and social security benefits" from their Social Security Office. In addition, the Department's International Pensions Centre provides oral and written advice to people who intend to move abroad.

Information is also available on the DWP website—www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department would have been in each of the last five years of unfreezing state pension for those retired abroad in countries without a full reciprocal social security agreement. [71183]

Mr. McCartney

Due to data limitations, we are unable to provide meaningful estimates prior to 1999. However, such information as we can provide is set out in the table below

Year Additional cost of paving pensions at an unfrozen rate (£ million)
2000–01 280
2001–02 330
2002–03 370

Notes:

1. Costs are shown in cash terms, i.e. not adjusted for inflation.

2. Costs include all components of State Pensions.

3. Costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

4. To fully restore the state pension to what it would have been had it not been frozen will cost around £3 billion