§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the estimated cost if the retirement pension were increased to half the average national wage; and by how much contributions would have to be increased.
§ Miss HerbisonI could not attempt an estimate without more information than the hon. Lady has given about the proposed basis of calculation and how it should be applied to the various rates of retirement pension.
591W
§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people were in receipt of retirement pensions in 1965; what is the estimated number and cost for the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970; and what is the total number of contributors for these periods.
§ Miss HerbisonThe number of retirement pensioners in 1965 was 6¼ million. The latest estimates of future numbers and costs (on present pension rates) are given in the following table:
Financial Year Number of retirement pensioners Cost of retirement pensions Total number of contributors (millions) (£ millions) (millions) 1966–67 6.4 1,264 25.3 1967–68 6.5 1,292 25.3 1968–69 6.7 1,322 25.3 1969–70 6.8 1,351 25.4 1970–71 6.9 1,379 25.4
§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retired people did not receive a retirement pension and received National Assistance benefit in 1965; and what are the estimated numbers for each year from 1966 to 1970.
§ Miss HerbisonOn 14th December, 1965, there were approximately 181,000 retired people receiving National Assistance who had no retirement pension, including 53,000 persons receiving non-contributory old age pension. I am afraid it is not possible to estimate with any certainty what the corresponding numbers might be in future years.