National Pensions Plan (Hansard, 25 May 1971)

§ 13. Mr. Dykes
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish his Department's new National Pensions plan.

§ Mr. Dean
We are pressing on with our plans, but I cannot at this stage give a date for their publication.

§ Mr. Dykes
I appreciate my hon. Friend's difficulty. Is he aware that there has been a widespread welcome, both inside and outside this House, for an early plan which would make clear the relationship of private to national pensions and the differences between graduated national pensions and the flat-rate State pensions?

§ Mr. Dean
Yes, Sir. I think the House knows that it is the Government's firm intention to encourage occupational pension schemes to develop still further.

§ Mr. Marks
As inflation has made nonsense of the idea that we need to review pensions only every two years, will there be provision for an annual review in the new plan?

§ Mr. Dean
My right hon. Friend's proposals now before the House involve bringing forward this year's increase by about six weeks. I cannot add to that.