§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate 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 in (A) 1992–93 and (B) each succeeding year to the end of the public expenditure planning period. [112332]
§ Maria EagleThe information requested is given in the tables. 631W
Table 2: Benefit spending on pensioners in real terms (2002–03 prices) £ million Retirement pensions Winter fuel payments Income related benefits Over 75 TV licences Other benefits Total 1992–93 36,060 0 9,407 0 3,319 48,787 1993–94 37,210 0 10,206 0 3,813 51,229 1994–95 37,507 0 10,394 0 4,119 52,019 1995–96 37,729 0 10,306 0 4,534 52,570 1996–97 38,688 0 10,094 0 4,858 53,640 1997–98 39,062 217 9,801 0 5,074 54,153 1998–99 39,980 215 9,484 0 5,301 54,979 1999–2000 41,112 820 9,575 0 5,492 56,999 2000–01 41,020 1,847 9,952 323 5,737 58,878 2001–02 43,284 1,743 10,488 376 5,994 61,885 2002–03 44,513 1,712 10,644 374 6,120 63,363 2003–04 45,380 1,840 11,172 395 6,227 65,014 2004–05 46,305 1,815 12,385 405 6,371 67,280 2005–06 47,325 1,790 12,945 415 6,551 69,026
Table 3: Benefit spending on pensioners as a percentage of GDP Precentage Retirement pensions Winter fuel payments Income related benefits Over 75 TV licences Other benefits Total 1992–93 4.5 0.0 1.2 0.0 0.4 6.1 1993–94 4.5 0.0 1.2 0.0 0.5 6.2 1994–95 4.4 0.0 1.2 0.0 0.5 6.1 1995–96 4.3 0.0 1.2 0.0 0.5 6.0 1996–97 4.3 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.5 5.9 1997–98 4.2 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 5.8 1998–99 4.2 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.6 5.7 1999–2000 4.1 0.1 1.0 0.0 0.6 5.7 2000–01 4.0 0.2 1.0 0.0 0.6 5.8 2001–02 4.2 0.2 1.0 0.0 0.6 6.0 2002–03 4.2 0.2 1.0 0.0 0.6 6.0 2003–04 4.2 0.2 1.0 0.0 0.6 6.0 2004–05 4.2 0.2 1.1 0.0 0.6 6.0 2005–06 4.1 0.2 1.1 0.0 0.6 6.0 Notes:
1. Forecasts for 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 consistent with Budget 2003 DWP benefit expenditure forecasts, and published in the DWP 2003 Departmental Report.
2. Expenditure for 2002–03 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn, and not the amounts voted by Parliament.
3. Includes all spending on pensioners including that outside the departmental objective to "Combat poverty and promote security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners".
4. Widow's/bereavement benefits and incapacity benefit paid to pensioners are included in the Retirement Pensions spending.
5. All numbers are on a Great Britain basis except over 75 TV licences which also includes Northern Ireland.
6. Pensioner spending on income related benefits and winter fuel payments includes payments to men aged 60–64.
7. Housing benefit and council tax benefit spending (included in income-related benefits) covers benefits paid to pensioners, regardless of whether the payments are funded by DWP, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or the Welsh Assembly Government (and predecessor Departments), or from local authorities' general funds.
8. Figures for 1999–2000 onwards are on a Resource Accounting and Budgeting basis. Previous years' figures are on a cash basis, but the impact of the change is unlikely to be significant.