§ Mr. Weatherillasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance on what she bases her calculation that the abolition of the earnings rule would mean an immediate additional expenditure of £120 million a year.
§ Mr. PentlandThe abolition of the earnings rule would involve the abolition also of the condition under which men between 65 and 70 and women between 60 and 65 cannot receive their pensions until they have retired. The withdrawal of this condition would mean that people in these age groups who are at present continuing at work would immediately receive pensions, and this would account for more than £115 million of the estimated immediate annual cost.