HC Deb 29 April 1975 vol 891 cc220-2
10. Sir A. Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the highest level of retirement pension for a married couple provided by a member State of the EEC; and how many member States provide a higher retirement pension for married couples than the United Kingdom.

Mr. O'Malley

Information about pensions in the various European Economic Community countries is in the Library of the House. But detailed comparisons between levels of pensions would not in fact be meaningful since it would be impossible to make due allowance for all relevant factors, such as fluctuating exchange rates, different costs of living, levels of wages, taxation and social security contributions, and social provision generally.

Sir A. Meyer

Is the Minister aware that that is a wriggle, designed to conceal the fact that in nearly every member country of the Community retirement pensions, however financed, are substantially higher than in this country? Is he also aware that as long as Britain remains within the European Community there will be continuing pressure on British Governments, of whatever party, to bring retirement benefits up to the highest level of benefit available within the Community?

Mr. O'Malley

I wish that occasionally the Conservative Opposition would speak up for Britain instead of trying to knock it in every discussion on the European Economic Community, and that they would recognise that there are many aspects of our total social arrangements which are superior to anything in Europe. If the hon. Gentleman looks at the EEC sources, he will find that, judged on the basis of a percentage of available net income, the position of Great Britain in treating its retirement pensioners and widows is high in the league table. If the hon. Gentleman would do that, instead of coming out with pro-Common Market propaganda uncritically, which none of my hon. Friends does, he would better serve the purposes of the House.

Mr. William Hamilton

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Chief Whip at the time put us on a three-line Whip to force us through the Lobby in favour of British entry to the Common Market a few years ago and that he, along with my right hon. Friend, is now an anti Marketeer? Can my right hon. Friend say, in answer to the original Question. what proportion of average earnings the pension constitutes in Europe, on average, as compared with this country?

Mr. O'Malley

The figures from the EEC report on the development of the social situation in the Community in 1974 demonstrated that Britain was high in the league table, at 8.8 per cent.—higher than France, Italy, Ireland, Denmark and Belgium, but lower than Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. We must take a balanced view. In the principal EEC countries there is earnings-related pension provision, which for far too long under successive Governments we have failed to achieve. I hope, and I believe that the whole House would wish, that we shall achieve that in legislation before the end of the Session.