§ Sir Ian GilmourTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people put in claims for retirement pension during the six months to March 1989; how many were awarded the full basic rate retirement pension; and what are the reasons for the proportion not receiving full basic rate pension.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardIn the six months to March 1989 317,011 claims were made to state retirement pension and 244,940 awards of basic pension made. The difference between these figures is made up by those claims from individuals choosing to defer their pensions, those which led to the payment of graduated and additional pension only and cases where there was no entitlement to retirement pension.
Of the awards made, 194,600 were at the full rate of basic retirement pension. These pensions are based upon a person's, or their spouse's, contribution record; the main reason for an award being made at less than the full rate is an insufficient record, but it can also reflect a reduction due to receipt of another benefit.