§ 22. Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of total contributions to contributory private occupational pension schemes employees contribute, according to the latest figures available to the Government Actuary.
§ Mr. DeanAbout one-third. Of a total of £860 million, £290 million was contributed by employees. The balance contributed by employers includes special payments, for example to finance benefits for back service, to augment benefits or to make good actuarial deficiencies.
§ Mr. CunninghamWill the Secretary of State, and not the Under-Secretary, be prepared to admit that the facts which have just been given are in direct conflict with what he said on Second Reading of the Social Security Bill last November? Will the Secretary of State take this opportunity to apologise for misleading the House on that occasion?
§ Mr. DeanIt is the hon. Gentleman who is trying to mislead the House. He should know enough about these matters to realise that there is a fundamental difference between an occupational pension scheme, which is part of the remunerative package over which the employer has control, and the arrangements which we are proposing for the State reserve scheme, which pays special attention to the needs of the lower paid who, amongst other things, cannot benefit from tax relief.
§ Mr. CunninghamOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, which was designed to camouflage the facts—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member must make his submission in the proper form.