§ 18. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Minister of Social Security whether she will reconsider the arrangement whereby persons in work over retirement age pay earnings-related insurance contributions, but do not receive earnings-related sickness or unemployment benefit when sick or unemployed.
§ Mr. PentlandNo, Sir. There remain strong reasons against paying sickness and unemployment above the retirement pension rate to those who are over minimum pension age.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs the hon. Gentleman aware—since the Department admitted to a constituent of mine who raised this matter that it was an injustice—that justice should rate higher than administrative convenience?
§ Mr. PentlandWe discussed this very thoroughly during the Committee stage of the Measure. We have never claimed this to be a permanent scheme; and the whole matter is, of course, being examined in planning the new long-term provisions.
§ 19. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Minister of Social Security whether the additional contributions paid after retirement age by those still in work represent actuarily the increment in pension received after retirement, bearing in mind the pension forgone in the interim period.
§ Mr. PentlandNo, Sir. Increments provide only partial compensation for pension forgone and additional contributions paid, but they are complementary to the retirement condition and are not solely an actuarial matter.