To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons his Department has capped the level of contracted-out rebates for contracted-out appropriate personal pensions and money purchase schemes; and if he will make a statement. (141178)

Age related rebates for contracted-out personal pension schemes and money purchase occupational schemes were introduced in April 1997. The details are in the Secretary of State's report of March 1996, which forms part of the “Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes Review of Certain Contracting-out Terms, Cm. 3221” This approach to age related rebates has continued in subsequent rebate reviews.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what effect on costs to the public purse the Government have achieved from capping the age-related national insurance rebate to appropriate personal pension schemes for each year from 2007-08 to 2012-13; and if he will make a statement; (141452)

The effect on national insurance revenues arising from recent changes to age-related rebate rates is broadly neutral over the longer term.