§ 10. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are his current plans for introducing a common retirement age for men and women in relation to the state pension.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Government's position remains as described in the response, published in April, to the report of the Select Committee in another place.
§ Mr. HughesNow that we are beginning to see signs of the Government's programme for the coming year and what the Prime Minister would like in their manifesto for the next election, and as the Prime Minister will be 65 this autumn, may we at last have a clear commitment from the Government to a common retirement age for women and men?
§ Mr. NewtonI have referred to our response to the Select Committee in another place, and I have no doubt that the hon. Gentleman will have read it. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Government are committed to the principle of equal treatment, but there are a range of difficult, complex practical issues and I really cannot give the hon. Gentleman the off-the-cuff undertaking that he seeks.