HC Deb 26 July 1949 vol 467 c2238
37. Mr. Niall Macpherson

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that under existing regulations non-employed persons who have given due notice of claims of pension in anticipation of attaining the prescribed age, are thereafter required to give notice of retirement, although they have no occupation from which to retire; and whether he will alter the regulations so as to correct this anomaly.

The Minister of National Insurance (Mr. James Griffiths)

The National Insurance Act requires everyone, including those classified as non-employed to give formal notice of retirement as a condition of receiving a retirement pension, and I have no power to alter this by regulations. Provision for giving this notice is made in the claim form, and if this is duly completed no separate notice is required.

Mr. Macpherson

Is it not the case that preliminary notices are given by non-employed persons that they are about to reach the age of entitlement to pension? After they have done that, what is the point of giving notice that they are about to reach that age of retirement from employment they have not got?

Mr. Griffiths

I agree that it is an anomaly, but I think that it can be removed by administration without going to the trouble of amending the Act.