§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Prime Minister what plans she has to reduce the costs to Her Majesty's Government of social security pensions.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no such present plans. The developing costs of pensions and the level of contributions needed to pay for them were presented in the Government Actuary's report on the long-term financial estimates of the national insurance fund (HC 451: 1982). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is currently chairing an inquiry into provision for retirement which, amongst other things, is studying
the future development, adequacy and costs of State, occupational, and private provision for retirement".We expect that the conclusions of that inquiry will be made known in the autumn of this year.