HC Deb 01 November 1949 vol 469 cc177-8
3. Mr. Turton

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that employees in excepted employment who, on retirement from such employment after the age of 60, enter the contributory pensions scheme, have no chance of qualifying for an old age pension although they may pay contributions for five years; and whether, in these circumstances, he will refund their contributions.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Insurance (Mr. Steele)

The hon. Member is, I think, referring to certain provisions of the old contributory pensions Acts. These are no longer operative.

Mr. Turton

Do I understand that employees in excepted employment who retired after the age of 60 can now qualify for a contributory pension?

Mr. Steele

No. What I am saying is that the persons to whom the hon. Gentleman appears to refer were covered by the old contributory pensions Acts which have been repealed.

Mr. Turton

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary will answer my Question, which was: Have these people paid contributions for five years with no hope or expectation of getting a pension; and will not the hon. Gentleman take the honourable course of refunding their contributions?

Mr. Steele

The hon. Gentleman appears to be referring to men who were 65 before 5th July, 1948, and who therefore did not come within the provisions of the new Act. What he is in fact asking me to do is to make some alteration of Acts of Parliament which have already been repealed.