Social Security

I am satisfied that the orders are compatible with the European convention on human rights. This year's social security benefits uprating order increases support for people on pensions and benefits by more than £6 billion. It reinforces our commitment to providing real help in the current economic climate, taking total benefit expenditure for the next financial year to an estimated £142 billion. We are committed to doing everything we can to get real help to people, taking action now when it matters most. The headline figures are generous, and I hope that they will be welcomed throughout the House. Pension credit will rise by the highest amount since its introduction, targeting the most vulnerable, and we will increase the basic state pension by 5 per cent. in April. That means more cash in pensioners' pockets, and it comes at an important time for them. The order will add some £6.2 billion to Government expenditure, of which almost £4 billion will support pensioners, £1.2 billion will help working-age people, £890 million will go to disabled people and carers and £70 million will go to children.