§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2002, to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb),Official Report, column 8, on annuities, if he will set out the calculation on which his estimate of 18 million beneficiaries of the state second pension is based. [43349]
§ Mr. Nick Brown[holding reply 14 March 2002]: A breakdown of the 18 million people expected to gain from the introduction of the state second pension is in the table:
million Low earners Moderate earners Carers Long-term disabled 4.5 9.5 2.2 2 Figures for low and moderate earners were calculated by the Government Actuary's Department using an earnings distribution based on the New Earnings Survey. Estimates for carers and long-term disabled people were based on the Family Resources Survey and Department for Social Security administrative data.
These figures are consistent with the projections contained in the report by the Government Actuary on the financial effects on the National Insurance Fund of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill 1999.