§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish a comparative table of pensions in the United Kingdom and in the other member States of the European Community.
§ Mr. O'MalleyFollowing are the current standard rates of retirement pensions of single persons and married couples respectively where a flat-rate pension is payable.
83W
United Kingdom £11.60 and £18.50 Republic of Ireland. £10.50 and £17.15 Netherlands 148 florins and 210 florins (after 50 years' insurance) Denmark provides pensions of 335.31 kroner and 474.92 kroner a week respectively—as at 1st January 1975—after 40 years' insurance plus a supplement subject to a test of means. Other member States have mainly earnings-related pensions schemes. Detailed information on pensions schemes in other Community countries is available in the Library of the House.
A meaningful comparison of pensions levels cannot, however, be made without taking into account other factors which vary from country to country such as costs of living, levels of wages, taxation, and social security contributions and social provision generally.