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26 Oct 2005 : Column 456W—continued
Pensions
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of indexing the pensions of British citizens retiring to each country without a reciprocal agreement on social security, from this point forward, but without restoring the pensions to the level they would be at had they always been indexed (a) for each of the next five years, (b) in 2015, (c) in 2020 and (d) in 2030; [19953]
(2) how many overseas citizens who have settled in the United Kingdom since 1975 are now receiving (a) UK pensions and (b) UK means-tested pension benefits; and if he will make a statement; [19956]
(3) how many citizens of the United Kingdom who are resident outside the United Kingdom are receiving a basic state pension which is not uprated each year, broken down by country of residence. [20026]
Mr. Timms: Such information as is available is in the tables.
The information in table 1 shows the estimated costs of uprating the current amount of state pension paid to people residing in countries where it is not uprated.
Reliable long-term estimates are not available. However, the costs would increase significantly over future years.
| Additional cost of uprating (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 20,000,000 |
| 2006–07 | 50,000,000 |
| 2007–08 | 70,000,000 |
| 2008–09 | 100,000,000 |
| 2009–10 | 130,000,000 |
Source:
Forecast expenditure figures based upon DWP Retirement Pension administrative data, HM Treasury short-term Retail Prices Index forecasts and GAD Overseas Pensioner forecasts.
26 Oct 2005 : Column 457W
The Department does not collect details of individuals' citizenship as UK state benefits are paid to all who satisfy the conditions of entitlement regardless of citizenship. Therefore, information on benefit entitlement split by citizenship status is not available. The information in table 2 shows the numbers of UK state pensions paid to people residing in countries outside the European Economic Area and with which the UK does not have a reciprocal Social Security agreement covering uprating of UK state pensions.
Source:
DWP caseload data—October 2005
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Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in the Coventry, South area who have lost their pensions due to firm insolvency since 1997. [21269]
Mr. Timms: The information is not available. The Government are currently inviting notifications of affected pension schemes to the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), and are therefore obtaining some information on the number of members facing pensions losses due to company insolvency. In due course, information will also be collected on individual members in schemes qualifying for FAS, including their addresses, at which point it may be possible to make some estimates of numbers affected in particular areas.
Voice Stress Analysis
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what budget has been allocated for testing the use of voice stress analysis in telephone based benefit claims; which section of his Department is managing this work; and if he will make a statement. [20153]
Mr. Plaskitt: At the present time no specific budget has been allocated for testing the use of voice stress analysis in telephone based claims. Work to assess the feasibility of such tests is being managed by a team of staff drawn from a number of sections within the Department who have experience of using technology for the administration of benefit claims.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to introduce lie-detector tests for benefit claimants for telephone claims; and if he will make a statement; [18637]
(2) when he plans to introduce voice stress analysis for processing telephone claims for benefits; and if he will make a statement. [20251]
Mr. Plaskitt:
Voice stress analysis is one technique we are considering to help improve customer service and eliminate fraud and error in telephone claims for benefits. We will assess the usefulness of this technology. Once piloting and other work is completed we will consider what application the technology has for the administration of benefit claims. We will not be piloting voice stress analysis on telephone claims to disability living allowance.
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LEADER OF THE HOUSE
Members' Salaries
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Leader of the Househow many hon. Members are not eligible for anyadditional salary above the basic Member's salarygranted for a ministerial or other position in the House. [21079]
Mr. Hoon: From 1 November, when the members of the chairmen's panel become eligible for additional payments, a total of 153 Members will receive an addition to the basic Member's salary. 488 Members will therefore receive the basic salary only. (This excludes the five Sinn Fein Members who do not receive a salary.)
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