HC Deb 29 October 2003 vol 412 cc304-5W
Gregory Barker

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his Answer of 15 July 2003,Official Report, column 252W, on the state pension, if he will calculate the figures on the assumption that earnings growth exceeded price inflation by 1.5 per cent. in each of the six years in question. [132890]

Mr. Browne

The information requested is in the tables.

Department's forecasts for benefit expenditure and case loads for 2004–05 and 2005–06. In calculating costs for years after 2005–06 no change to levels of take-up is modelled.

Gregory Barker

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 15 July,Official Report, column 252W, on the state pension, what assumption has been made in each of the six years in question for the amount by which earnings growth exceeds price inflation. [132893]

Mr. Browne

The previous answer was consistent with economic assumptions underpinning the 2003 budget. Medium and Long-term projections as published in the 2003 budget, forecast real earnings growth at 2 per cent.