To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much expenditure from the public purse on pensions was as a percentage of gross domestic product in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate has been made of the equivalent figure in (a) 2030, (b) 2040 and (c) 2050. (304385)

I have been asked to reply.

The 2009 Long-term public finance report sets out long-term projections for state pension and public sector pension expenditure as a proportion of GDP. This can be found on the HMT website:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr09_longtermfinances.htm