§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to use the surplus in the National Insurance Fund to increase state pensions. [164117]
§ Malcolm WicksWe are committed to ensuring that the basic state pension remains the foundation for income in retirement, paid for from the National Insurance Fund with a guarantee to increase it by at least 2.5 per cent. a year. We will continue to manage the fund prudently to achieve that objective.