§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received that he should reconsider the proposals in Command Paper No. 4755, "Strategy for Pensions ", Chapter 2, paragraph 54, that graduated pension earned in the present scheme will not be revalued to allow for the effect of inflation, in the light of the waiting period and the fact that this was unknown to persons making the decision to contract 106W in or out of the graduated scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. Joseph:Since the White Paper was published, 10 hon. Members have forwarded letters, eight from the same correspondent, and a few letters have also been received direct from members of the public. I cannot accept that the proposals in the White Paper are in any way contrary to what an employer was entitled to expect when deciding whether to contract out. An undertaking was given when the graduated scheme was introduced that no employee who was contracted out would be worse off as a result and the scheme made no provision for increasing pensions in the light of changing money values.