§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the retirement ages in each of the other EEC countries.
§ Mr. O'MalleyPayment of social security pensions in other EEC countries is not necessarily related to retirement. Pension may be paid when claimed at normal pension age, but some schemes provide for a reduced pension to be paid if the claim is made earlier or an increased pension if the claim is deferred. The latest available information about pension ages under the general schemes of other member States is shown below. Different conditions may apply in special schemes covering particular groups of persons.
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GERMANY Men Women 1. Normal pension age … … 65 65 2. If there is 35 year's insurance … … 63 63 3. Recognised severly disabled people … … 62 62 4. Those incapable of earning their living and who have 35 years' insurance 62 62 5. Those continuously unemployed for at least 1 year … … 60 60 6. Women with 10 years' insurance in the last 20 years and who are no longer gainfully occupied — 60 Retirement is not necessary. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Men Women Normal pension age— (a) retirement pension … … 65 65 (b) contributory old age pension … … 68 68 Retirement is necessary for (a). ITALY Men Women 1. Normal pension age … … 60 55 or after 35 years' insurance whichever is earlier 2. Redundant workers with approximately 14 years' contributions … 57 52 Retirement is necessary. LUXEMBOURG Men Women 1. Normal pension age … … 65 65 2. Industrial staff with 10,800 days' insurance who have given up work 62 62 3. Non-industrial staff with 180 months' insurance who have given up work 60 55 Retirement is necessary. NETHERLANDS Men Women Normal pension age … … 65 65 Retirement is not necessary.
§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action she intends to take to ensure that men and women pay into the national insurance fund for the same number of years to gain a full entitlement to a retirement pension and that the entitlement to draw a retirement pension occurs at the same age for men as it does for women; and if, in the interests of reducing sexual discrimination, she will take urgent steps to introduce such a measure.
§ Mr. O'MalleyAs I have pointed out on a number of occasions, a reduction in men's pensionable age is ruled out for the foreseeable future on grounds of cost. The cost to the National Insurance Fund and in supplementary pensions of reducing men's pension age to 60 would be an extra £1,580 million a year at current benefit rates. This assumes that the pattern of retirement between 60 and 65 would be the same as it is now between 65 and 70 and takes into account the savings in other benefits and the loss of contribution income. On the other hand, the Government believe that raising the pensionable age for women would546W be unfair to women who have contributed over the years in the expectation of a pension at 60.