§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income was spent on retirement pensions in each year since 1975.
§ Mr. MellorRetirement pensions paid out by the national insurance fund, together with pensions and other benefits paid by public and private sector occupational pension schemes are estimated to have amounted to the following percentages of national income:—
Per cent. 1975 10.9 1976 11.1 1977 11.3 1978 11.3 1979 11.4 1980 12.2 1981 13.7 1982 14.1 1983 14.2 1984 14.2 1985 14.4 1986 15.2 1987 15.2 1988 14.2 1989 14.2