To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 43W, on carer's allowance, if he will estimate the cost of extending payment to all those of pension age assessed as eligible; and if he will make a statement. (260422)

The increase in annual carer's allowance expenditure as a result of the extension described would be around £950 million.

It should be noted that unless major changes to rules on how carer's allowance is treated within pension credit were to be introduced, the overall Exchequer cost of such a measure would be smaller due to the offsetting reduction in pension credit expenditure.

Notes:

1. £950 million figure is the annual cost using 2008-09 benefit rates and August 2008 Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study data to produce a caseload estimate.

2. The figure is rounded to the nearest £50 million.