§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women aged 60 years currently have been excluded from receiving a full retirement pension because their years of work between the ages of 14 and 16 were not taken into account; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is not possible to identify whether there are any women who would have received a full basic 305W retirement pension if they had paid national insurance contributions between 14 and 16 years of age. Prior to 1948, under the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts, the earliest date from which an employee could be compulsorily insured for pension purposes was from the date of his/her 16th birthday. Prior to age 16, contributions were payable only for medical cover.