§ 152. Mr. Iain MacLeodasked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will consider making arrangements whereby retirement pensioners who return to full time employment can, if they so desire, pay contributions under the National Insurance Act, 1946, and thus qualify for a higher pension when they again retire.
§ Dr. SummerskillThis would require legislation, but it is one of a number of matters I am examining.
§ 153. Mr. Iain MacLeodasked the Minister of National Insurance whether she has arrived at a decision regarding the desirability or otherwise of doubling the increments for postponement of retirement pensions.
§ Dr. SummerskillNo.
§ 154. Mr. Iain MacLeodasked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will make arrangements whereby the casual earnings of retirement pensioners are assessed on a monthly, instead of on a weekly, basis as at present.
§ Dr. SummerskillI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) on Monday last.
§ 157. Sir W. Darlingasked the Minister of National Insurance if she will consider allowing persons who have reached 65 years of age to contract out of pension due, permitting such sums to accrue for 24W a deferred annuity at a date not less than 10 years from such contracting-out date.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe hon. Member may have overlooked the provisions of the National Insurance Act under which a man who postpones retirement earns increments on the pension payable when he eventually retires. The principle which I think he has in mind is accordingly already embodied in the Act.
§ 158. Sir W. Darlingasked the Minister of National Insurance how many male and female pensioners in Scotland are continuing to earn by working; and what is the total amount withheld annually because of such decision by male and female pensioners respectively.
§ Dr. SummerskillI regret that this information is not available.