§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the circumstances in which voluntary contributions to a stakeholder pension scheme are treated as voluntary deprivation of capital for the purposes of Income Support; and if he will make a statement. [150876]
§ Mr. Pond[holding answer 26 January 2004]If a person makes a voluntary contribution of capital to a stakeholder pension with the intention of securing or increasing entitlement to Income Support, he may he considered to have deprived himself of that capital. Decisions are based on the particular circumstances of each case and there is a right of appeal against an unfavourable decision.