§ 45. Mr. Deanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when she will receive the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the Earnings Rule for retirement pensioners.
§ Miss HerbisonI cannot add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 2nd May.
§ Mr. DeanDoes the right hon. Lady realise that this is becoming an urgent matter, because earnings have increased very substantially since the last increase in the earnings rule? Can she at least give an assurance that when she gets this report any proposals it may make will not be affected by the present freeze on earnings?
§ Miss HerbisonThe National Insurance Advisory Committee has been regarding this remit as a matter of great urgency. The hon. Gentleman may like to know that that Committee is meeting today and tomorrow—something quite unheard of in August—to try to get its report to me as quickly as possible. The second part of his question will have to be considered by the Government.