Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of people who will reach state pension age in the 12 months from the commencement date of the single tier pension who will receive a reduced pension as a result of (a) having made reduced National Insurance contributions as a consequence of contracting out of (i) SERPS or (ii) 2SP and (b) failure to attain the qualifying threshold of a contribution record of 35 years.

The Department estimates that of those reaching State Pension Age in 2016-17:

· 37% will receive at least the full rate of the new State Pension;

· 52% will receive less than the full rate of the new State Pension due to having made reduced National Insurance contributions as a consequence of contracting–out of additional pension (SERPS and/or S2P);

· 11% will receive less than the full rate of the new State Pension due to not having achieved 35 qualifying years.

Percentages have been rounded to the nearest 1%.

These individuals will have their own National Insurance record valued at the higher of the old scheme or new scheme rules. Both old scheme and new scheme valuations will take account of periods of contracted out employment.