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Working Families Tax Credit
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the real annual growth in the Social Security budget from (a) 1993-94 to 1998-99 and from (b) 1998-99 to 2001-02, after adjusting for the transfer from family credit to the working families tax credit; and if he will make a statement. [59431]
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Mr. Darling
[holding answer 12 November 1998]: Following real growth in the Department's benefit expenditure of 10.1 per cent. between 1991-92 and 1992-93 and 6.7 per cent. between 1992-93 and 1993-94, average annual real growth in the Department's benefit expenditure is estimated to be 0.6 per cent. from 1993-94 to 1998-99 and 1.5 per cent. from 1998-99 to 2001-02. Benefit expenditure grew by 4 per cent. over the last Parliament. It is estimated that it will grow by less than 2 per cent. in this Parliament.
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the review of private pension provision will be completed. [59322]
Mr. Denham:
The Government's Pension Review is looking at all aspects of pensions, including second tier pensions. As set out in the Green Paper "New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare" (Cm 3805), we intend to publish a Green Paper on pensions later this year.
Mr. Rendel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 606-07, (1) what is the average loss in child maintenance to parents under the formula proposed in the Green Paper on child support, broken down into those now receiving (a) under £5, (b) £5-£9.99, (c) £10-£19.99, (d) £20-£29.99, (e) £30-£39.99, (f) £40-£49.99, (g) £50-£59.99, (h) £60-£69.99, (i) £70-£79.99, (j) £80-£89.99, (k) £90-£99.99 and (l) £100 and above per week; [59382]
(2) what the basis is of his estimate that compliance with child maintenance orders will rise to 80 per cent. or more under the new scheme. [59648]
| Current banded assessment (£) | Average change in maintenance assessment |
|---|---|
| Under 5.00 | * |
| 5.00-9.99 | 2.50 |
| 10.00-19.99 | 4.50 |
| 20.00-29.99 | 7.00 |
| 30.00-39.99 | 11.00 |
| 40.00-49.99 | 14.50 |
| 50.00-59.99 | 19.00 |
| 60.00-69.99 | 21.00 |
| 70.00-79.99 | 24.50 |
| 80.00-89.99 | 24.50 |
| 90.00-99.99 | 24.50 |
| 100 and over | 22.00 |
| All cases | 16.50 |
Notes:
1. Average changes in maintenance assessments calculated from February 1997 5 per cent. scan of the child support computer and based on estimated 1997-98 caseloads and do not take account of, for example, the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit.
2. Average changes have been rounded to the nearest 50p. '*' denotes a change of less than 50p a week.
3. Caseloads include parents with a full maintenance assessment in place and for whom the non-resident parent has a positive assessable income.
4. Reflects benefit status of the parent with care at date of first assessment.
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This table does not include parents with care on Income Support whose maintenance assessment is reduced; these cases will experience an overall increase in income because of the proposed introduction of a £10 maintenance premium. Also the information above defines cases as losers based on assessed maintenance, rather than maintenance paid, and before allowing for any changes in compliance which may occur as a result of the new formula.
Our estimates of increased compliance are based on the simpler, transparent rules of the new scheme. Non-resident parents will be able to see at a glance how much their assessment should be. Information on which the basic assessment is calculated will be more straightforward and there will be little opportunity for those who simply do not wish to pay to thwart the Agency's efforts in securing maintenance for the children. Assessments will be made faster and all the evidence is that non-resident parents are more willing to pay, and pay regularly, if they are contacted quickly.
Mr. Edward Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals claimed invalidity benefit or its equivalent as a year on year figure from 1995 to 1998 in (a) each London borough, (b) each London parliamentary constituency and (c) nationally. [59356]
Mr. Timms
[holding answer 12 November 1998]: The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.
| Period | Number |
|---|---|
| 13 April 1995-31 March 1996 | 1,054,340 |
| 1 April 1996-31 March 1997 | 1,062,817 |
| 1 April 1997-31 March 1998 | 1,012,981 |
Notes:
1. The source of the number of new Incapacity Benefit claims is the Benefits Agency Central Data Unit. These figures are subject to change.
2. The source of the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients is a 5 per cent. sample of the INCAP computer system. Excludes a small number of cases not on the system.
3. An individual may make more than one claim to Incapacity Benefit during a year.
4. Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit on 13 April 1995.
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Pensions
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the additional cost of the guaranteed minimum income for pensioners if 100 per cent. take-up were achieved. [59819]
Mr. Denham: The information is in the table.
Estimated expenditure across Income Support/Housing Benefit/ Council Tax Benefit
| Year | Mid-range estimate
| 1999-2000 | 750
| 2001-2001 | 550
| 2001-2002 | 350
| | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes:
1. 100 per cent. take-up could be achieved only if all eligible pensioners took up their entitlement from the very first day they became entitled. There will always be some pensioners who choose not to claim because they are entitled only to small amounts.
2. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest £50 million, and are based on the 1995-96 and 1996-97 Family Resources Survey, and forecasts of pensioner benefit units consistent with estimates produced for the Comprehensive Spending Review.
3. Estimates decrease over the three-year CSR period, reflecting the build up to 85 per cent. take-up by expenditure assumed in the CSR costings. Estimates are normally given in ranges, but for consistency with the CSR published figures, the mid-point estimate is quoted in the reply.
4. As all estimates based on household survey data are subject to a degree of uncertainty, these estimates should be treated as indicative of broad magnitudes only.
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