Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the reduction in claims for child benefit since August 2012 on entitlement to the full state pension by gender.

No such assessment has been made.

Qualifying Years of National Insurance (NI) which count towards State Pension eligibility can be built through a number of ways; NI contributions whilst working or self-employed; by being credited with NI credits including for Child Benefit; and through making voluntary NI contributions. Additionally, individuals may build up sufficient qualifying years for the full rate of the new State Pension, over an expected working life of 50 years, even if there are some gaps in their NI record. Most individuals under the age of 50 will get the full rate of the new State Pension with 35 qualifying years.