HC Deb 11 April 1960 vol 621 cc107-8W
Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance his estimate of the number of men and women, respectively, who will qualify for a retirement pension under the National Insurance Acts in each of the next 10 years from 1960.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Two hundred thousand men and 260,000 women were awarded retirement pensions in 1959. Various factors can affect the figures from one year to another, but mainly because the numbers of men and women reaching minimum pension age is rising, these numbers are expected to increase gradually to 260,000 men and 320,000 women by 1970. At present about 1.8 million men and 3.65 million women receive retirement pensions: by 1970, these numbers are expected to be about 2.3 million and 4.5 million respectively.

Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the proportion of retirement pensioners who are in receipt of supplementary pensions in the age groups 60 to 65 years for women and 65 to 70 years for men, and in the age groups 65 and over 70 years, respectively.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The proportions of retirement pensioners receiving supplementary pensions are, for men, 12 per cent. between the ages of 65 and 69 and 17 per cent. over that age; and, for women drawing pensions on their own insurance or as widows, 16 per cent. between the ages of 60 and 64 and 29 per cent. over that age. Some of the awards to men provide for the needs of more than one pensioner.