§ 9. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Health what provision is made to safeguard old age pensions at 65 for wives and pensions for widows under the schemes of employers who have claimed exemption from national health and pension insurance; and whether any action is taken to ensure that private schemes give at least equal benefit to those obtainable under the National Health and Old Age Pension Insurance Acts?
Sir H. YOUNGThe safeguards indicated in the first part of the question are contained in Section 9 of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, which provides that exception can only be allowed in the case of employment under the Crown, local or public authorities and statutory undertakings, and that the equivalent pensions must be secured under a statutory scheme or by other approved means. As regards the second part of the question, a certificate of exception is not granted unless it is clear on the advice of the Government Actuary that the benefits given are equivalent to the statutory benefits to the extent required by the Acts.
§ Mr. DAVIESWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is suggested in some quarters that the scheme is not carried out to the point of providing the benefits that were promised at the beginning?