§ 10. Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action on the Equal Opportunities Commission formal investigation report on the British Steel Corporation concerning the effects of the statutory pension ages for men and women on the various redundancy provisions applied at the Shotton works of the corporation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerExtra-statutory redundancy provisions at Shotton are a matter for the British Steel Corporation to determine through the normal process of collective bargaining. Equalisation of State pension age, which is a principal recommendation of the Equal Opportunities Commission report, is already a long-term objective of the Government. However, as the recent White Paper "Growing Older" makes clear, cost and other considerations preclude any early change.
§ Mr. JonesIs the Minister aware of the tremendous campaign that has been waged by Mr. J. G. Jones and other redundant workers from Shotton? Does she agree that the men of Shotton who were made redundant have achieved a moral victory? Can the Minister speed up the implementation of the objective that she has stated?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI am aware of the campaign that the hon. Gentleman has cited. I understand the impatience about moving towards a common pension age. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the all-party Select Committee on Social Services is undertaking a study of earlier retirement, or the equalisation of retirement ages, and flexible retirement ages. We must await its report and the conclusion of the many other discussions that are taking place. A common pension age will perhaps have a greater effect on the occupational pensions industry than on the State pension sector.