§ Mr. John McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, to what extent, under his regulations, an insured person can contract out of schemes other than the graded pension scheme in the 1959 Act; whether those who contract out under this Act qualify for all other benefits including the flat rate pension; and how much will be contributed to national insurance after the National Insurance Bill, 1960, becomes an Act by those who have contracted out of the graded pension scheme and those who have not, respectively.
188W
— Executive grades Clerical and Typing grades Cleaners* Total Present Complement Leigh … … … … 9 38 2 49 Atherton … … … 3 13 1 17 Tyldesley … … … 3 12 ½ 15½ Total … … … 15 63 3½ 81½ Proposed Complement Leigh† … … … … 12 63 2 77 * Two part-time cleaners have been counted as one unit. † Includes staff for manning caller offices at Atherton and Tyldesley. The net savings in salaries and wages are estimated to be £5,100. It is contrary to practice to give details of rents paid or asked for Government offices. To do so, would, for obvious reasons, not be in the public interest.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithI am afraid I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind in the first part of his Question. Contracting out under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1959, does not affect title to flat rate benefits (including flat rate retirement pension) for which the necessary flat rate contributions have been or will be paid. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Government Actuary's Report on the National Insurance Bill, 1960.