§ 22. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce legislation to apply the earnings rule to the pensions of former Prime Ministers.
§ Mr. DeanNo, Sir. The earnings rule for which my right hon. Friend is responsible applies only to national insurance retirement pensions and is the same for former Prime Ministers as for anyone else.
§ Mr. LewisIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that old-age pensioners who work 40 years before they receive a pension and who contribute to their pension feel it rather unfair that they should have the earnings rule applied to them, whereas certain people who have a good salary, for many years in some instances, can go on to a non-contributory pension of £4,000 or £5,000 a year without the earnings rule being applied to them? Old-age pensioners feel that there is one rule for the rich and another for the poor.
§ Mr. DeanThe earnings rule has never applied to occupational pensions, which are being received by a very large number of people. It was to meet the point the hon. Gentleman made that the Government last year increased the amount that could be earned under the State scheme by no less than £2 a week.