§ 21. Mr. J. Robertsonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the estimated cost of allowing men in receipt of a National Insurance pension to earn an extra 20s. weekly before applying the earnings rule.
§ Mrs. ThatcherAbout £½ million a year.
§ Mr. RobertsonDoes the hon. Lady not agree that this is not too great a cost for lessening the anxieties which accrue to, and adding to the enjoyment of, old-age pensioners? Is her right hon. Friend contemplating a review of the situation?
§ Mrs. ThatcherI notice that the hon. Member for Paisley (Mr. J. Robertson) 19 is much more favourable towards women than men. The extra cost would be £2 million a year if it were applied to them as well. The amount was quite recently—last month—put up to 100s., the fourth rise in the last five years, and is now a higher percentage of average earnings than ever before.
§ Mr. LawsonWould the hon. Lady tell us by how much the amount is reduced to arrive at that? How much is knocked off?
§ Mrs. ThatcherI cannot deduce the meaning behind that supplementary question.
§ Mr. LawsonThe earnings rule says how much a man may earn. The amount is not paid on that basis. It is reduced. It is reduced to a given figure which the Board operates. Can the hon. Lady tell us by how much, as a rule, the figure which is first laid down is reduced?
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe Question does not arise from National Assistance but from National Insurance pensions. The Question refers to National Insurance pensions and the cost of an extra 20s. weekly before applying the earnings rule.
§ Mr. LawsonThe same rule applies in both cases—
§ Mr. SpeakerWe are not doing ourselves credit today. Only 18 Questions have been answered by 3.9 p.m.