To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what he estimates would be the cost to his Department of adding £3 per week to the pensions of pensioners over 75 years of age;(2) what he estimates would be the cost of adding £5 per week to the state pension for a single pensioner at current prices;(3) how much he estimates it would cost his Department to increase the pension for a married couple by £8 per week at current prices;(4) how much it would cost his Department to provide every pensioner aged 75 years and over with £10 per week extra at 1990–91 prices.
[holding answers 5 June and 12 June 1990]: The estimated gross and net costs with the accompanying estimated savings in income-related benefits for each of the additions is shown in the table.
| Addition | Estimated gross cost £ billion | Estimated net cost £ billion | Estimated savings in income related benefits £ billion |
| £3 per week to all pensioners over 75 | 0·61 | 0·42 | 0·20 |
| £5 per week to single pensioners | 1·15 | 0·73 | 0·43 |
| £8 per week to married couple pensioners | 1·37 | 1·10 | 0·26 |
| £10 per week to any pensioner aged 75 or over | 2·03 | 1·50 | 0·53 |
Note: Costs shown use 1990–91 benefit rates.