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Non-state Pensions

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total monetary value of non-state pensions contributions in 1998. [108344]

Mr. Rooker: The total monetary value of non-state pensions contributions (employer, employee and self- employed) in 1998 is estimated at £62.0 billion.

Source:

Office for National Statistics, MQ5 publications.

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of (a) employees and (b) the self-employed had a non-state pension in 1998. [108343]

Mr. Rooker: The percentages for 1997-98, the most recent available, are estimated at 61 per cent. for employees and 50 per cent. for the self-employed.

Source:

Family Resources Survey 1997-98.

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Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of working age people have contributed to a non-state pension in at least three years out of the four between 1995 and 1998. [108345]

Mr. Rooker: 48 per cent. of working age people are estimated to have paid contributions into a non-state scheme during the period 1994 to 1997, the latest available. The figure is based on people aged from 20 years to State pension age.

Source:

British Household Panel Survey.

Benefits (Pensioners)

Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking to encourage pensioners to take up their entitlement to state benefits. [106888]

Mr. Rooker: We are committed to taking action to find more effective ways of encouraging eligible pensioners to claim their entitlement to the minimum income guarantee. We will announce details of a national programme shortly.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Ms Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much he plans to raise the minimum income guarantee for the poorest pensioners this year. [106917]

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Mr. Rooker: From this April, the minimum income guarantee will be increased in line with earnings, providing a single pensioner with at least £78.45 a week and pensioner couples with £121.95.

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will establish an awareness campaign to ensure the take up of the minimum income guarantee by eligible pensioners in North Staffordshire. [108006]

Mr. Rooker: We are committed to taking action to find more effective ways of encouraging eligible pensioners to claim their entitlement to the minimum income guarantee. We will announce details of a national programme shortly.

State Pension

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost and amount of state second pension payable on retirement in (a) 2005, (b) 2010, (c) 2015, (d) 2025, and (e) 2047 on the assumption that the accruals rate for band one is set at (a) 80 per cent., (b) 70 per cent., (c) 60 per cent. or (d) 50 per cent. in year one of the State Second Pension and reduced to 40 per cent. in (i) nine years, (ii) 10 years and (iii) 15 years. [106851]

Mr. Rooker [holding answer 26 January 2000]: The information is in the tables.

Table 1 shows the extra cost of the various options specified in the years requested the costs for State Second Pension based on the proposals contained in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill.

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Table 1: Costs of State Second Pension with different accrual rate options1999-2000 prices

						£ billion
	Percentage	2005	2010	2015	2025	2047
Pension expenditure costs
Accrual rate for years 2002-09	80	0.1	1.0	2.0	3.7	5.8
	70	0.1	0.7	1.5	2.8	4.4
	60	0.1	0.5	1.0	1.9	2.9
	50	0.0	0.2	0.5	1.0	1.4
Accrual rate for years 2002-10	80	0.1	1.0	2.1	4.1	6.5
	70	0.1	0.7	1.5	3.1	4.9
	60	0.1	0.5	1.0	2.0	3.3
	50	0.0	0.2	0.5	1.0	1.6
Accrual rate for years 2002-15	80	0.1	1.0	2.2	5.6	10.2
	70	0.1	0.7	1.7	4.2	7.6
	60	0.1	0.5	1.1	2.8	5.1
	50	0.0	0.2	0.6	1.4	2.5
	Rebate costs
Accrual rate for years 2002-09	80	3.2	5.5	0.0	0.0	0.0
	70	2.4	4.1	0.0	0.0	0.0
	60	1.6	2.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
	50	0.8	1.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Accrual rate for years 2002-10	80	3.2	5.5	0.0	0.0	0.0
	70	2.4	4.1	0.0	0.0	0.0
	60	1.6	2.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
	50	0.8	1.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Accrual rate for years 2002-15	80	3.2	5.5	6.6	0.0	0.0
	70	2.4	4.1	4.9	0.0	0.0
	60	1.6	2.7	3.3	0.0	0.0
	50	0.8	1.4	1.6	0.0	0.0

Notes:

1. The figures are in £ billion and have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 billion.

2. The figures are gross figures. Offsetting Income-Related Benefits would reduce the pension expenditure costs by around 30 per cent. There would be no offset against the increased rebate costs.

3. The figures have been supplied by Government Actuary's Department.

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Table 2 shows the weekly amount of SERPS and State Second Pension in payment at retirement for the years requested based on the accrual options specified in the question. The figures are given in 1999-2000 earnings

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terms and rounded to the nearest whole pound. The figures are shown net of any basic state retirement pension.

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Table 2: Weekly amount of SERPS and State Second Pension payable based on different accrual rate options in 1999-2000 earnings terms £ at 1999-2000 earnings terms

	Accrual rate (%)	2005	2010	2015	2025	2047
Current proposals	40	28	30	32	37	51
Accrual rate for 2002-09	80	34	42	43	45	59
	70	32	39	40	43	57
	60	31	36	38	41	55
	50	29	33	35	39	53
Accrual rate for 2002-10	80	34	42	44	46	60
	70	32	39	41	44	58
	60	31	36	38	41	56
	50	29	33	35	39	53
Accrual rate for 2002-15	80	34	42	50	52	65
	70	32	39	45	48	62
	60	31	36	41	44	58
	50	29	33	37	40	55

Notes:

1. Figures are in 1999-2000 earnings terms, ie expressed at a constant level of prices and real earnings. This makes it easier to compare the figures across different years of retirement.

2. All estimated State Second Pension payments include SERPS payments on SERPS accrued before 2002 and are rounded to the nearest whole pound. The State Second Pension is assumed to be introduced in 2002.

3. All calculations are based on a full working life of 49 years. Earnings at the lower earnings threshold (£9,500 a year) have been assumed in every year of the working life.

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Maternity Pay

Ms Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of extending maternity pay, paid at 90 per cent. of earnings to (a) 18 weeks, (b) 26 weeks, (c) 39 weeks and (d) 52 weeks. [107403]

Mr. Bayley: The information is in the table.

The additional full year cost in 2000-01 of extending statutory maternity pay (SMP) beyond six weeks at 90 per cent. of earnings

	£ million
Option	Cost increase
Extension of this rate to 18 weeks	560
Extension of this rate to 26 weeks	1,080
Extension of this rate to 39 weeks	1,920
Extension of this rate to 52 weeks	2,750

Note:

These costs are the overall costs based on the Government Actuary's Department projection of the average number of people on SMP during 2000-01 at any one time of 100,000, and assume 100 per cent. take-up.

SCOTLAND

Oath of Allegiance

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on (a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108398]

Dr. Reid: In accordance with convention, correspondence received by Departments from hon. Members is treated in confidence.

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