§ 48. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Social Security how much would be needed to restore retirement pensions to the position they had relative to those in industry when the last pension increase was made.
§ Miss HerbisonI regret that insufficient material is available about the many and diverse occupational pension schemes in industry to allow such comparisons to be made.
§ Mr. RidsdaleIs the Minister frightened to give that comparison, because have not the pensions deteriorated relative to those of industry more during that period than in any similar period since 1945?
§ Miss HerbisonNo, Sir. If the information were available I should be delighted to give it, but the hon. Gentleman must know of the great variety of occupational pension schemes in this country, and he will also know that some of these pensions—perhaps for many thousands of people—are of a miserable a mount.