§ 79 and 81. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1)why he divides late entrants to the National Insurance Group into four categories, each of which contributes a different amount to the Fund; and whether he will make a statement;
(2)why late entrants to the scheme providing for a retirement pension pay £13 more in contributions if they are placed in Category D than if they are in Category A; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think that the hon. Member has in mind the effect on 115W late age entrants to insurance of the arrangements made in 1948 with a view to facilitating the collection of contributions and payment of benefit under the new scheme. These arrangements relieve all of these pensioners of some contributions prima facie payable, but as they save administrative costs both the Fund and pensioners are the better off for them. In any event as pensioners have made the option permitted by the Act on this basis, it is far too late to consider altering them now.