14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of a further increase in the basic retirement pension of £5 for a single person and £8 for a couple if this were extended to income support and to national insurance benefits tied to the pension, and the cost of an increase in child benefit to £8·60 a week.
17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of a further increase in the basic retirement pension of £5 for a single person and £8 for a couple if this were extended to income support and to national insurance benefits tied to the pension, a nd the cost of an increase in child benefit to £8·60 a week.
34.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of a further increase in the basic retirement pension of £5 for a single person and £8 for a couple if this were extended to income support and to national insurance benefits tied to the pension; and the cost of an increase in child benefit to £8·60 a week.
35.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of a further increase in the basic retirement pension of £5 for a single person and £8 for a couple, if this were extended to income support and to national insurance benefits tied to the pension; and the cost of an increase in child benefits to £8·60 a week.
I am sure that my hon. Friends, and indeed all hon. Members, will be interested to know that to increase state pensions and related pensions in the way described would cost in the order of £3 billion, and to increase child benefit would have a net cost of £635 million.