HC Deb 18 March 1974 vol 870 cc52-3W
Mr. Jopling

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of extending the retirement pension to men of 60 years and over.

Mr. O'Malley

The cost would depend on the extent to which men retired at the new minimum pension age. On the assumption that the pattern of retirement during the first five years after pension age was the same as it is now between 65 and 70, the cost, at current benefit rates, would be of the order of £915 million a year.

Mrs. Oppenheim

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are in receipt of national health insurance retirement pension.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

There were 7,936,450 national insurance retirement pensions in payment at 30th November, 1973.

Mrs. Oppenheim

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in receipt of national health insurance retirement pension are also in receipt of a second pension.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

It is estimated that the number of retirement pensioners in receipt of a second pension is in the region of 4 million. The second pensions include supplementary pensions, occupational pensions and disablement pensions. Some people may of course be receiving more than one of these second pensions.