§ Mr. Leaveyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the maximum a bachelor who is 65 years of age on 1st January, 1958, can have paid in State insurance contributions; how much of that can be regarded as accruing exclusively to the retirement funds; how much, on the basis of current life expectation, such a man can be expected to draw as a retirement pension, assuming the new single rate of 50s. will be applicable and unchanged; and if he will give comparable figures in respect of a married man.
§ Miss PittThe maximum amount which an employed man who reaches 65 years of age on 1st January, 1958, can have paid in State insurance contributions since July, 1912 is about £240, whether he is married or single. Of this sum about £85 is attributable to retirement pensions. His employers would have contributed an approximately equal amount. A bachelor could expect to draw, on average, about £1,600 in retirement pension at the new rate. A married man and his wife, if she were five years younger than himself, could between them expect to draw about £3,500.