HC Deb 25 March 1965 vol 709 cc145-7W
Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she

CONTRIBUTION RATES UNDER THE CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONS ACTS
Date Men Women
Employee Employer Total Employee Employer Total
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
From 4th January, 1926 … 4½ 4½ 9 2 2½ 4½
From 6th January, 1936 … 5½ 5½ 11 3 2½ 5½
From 1st July, 1940 … 6½ 6½ 1 1 5 3½ 8½
From 7th January, 1946 … 7½ 7½ 1 3 5 4½ 9½
From 30th September, 1946 … 1 6½ 1 6½ 3 1 1 3 1 2½ 2 5½

CONTRIBUTIONS, BENEFITS AND EXCHEQUER PAYMENTS UNDER THE CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONS ACTS
£ millions
Period Total Contributions Total Benefits* Exchequer Payments
4th January, 1926 to 31st March, 1927 … 25.9 7.4 4.0
Financial year 1927–28 … … … … 23.3 11.0 4.0
Financial year 1928–29 … … … … 23.3 22.8 4.0
Financial year 1929–30 … … … … 24.1 25.3 4.0
Financial year 1930–31 … … … … 23.4 33.3 9.0
Financial year 1931–32 … … … … 22.9 38.4 10.0
Financial year 1932–33 … … … … 22.6 39.6 11.0
Financial year 1933–34 … … … … 23.2 40.9 12.0
Financial year 1934–35 … … … … 23.9 42.0 13.0
Financial year 1935–36 … … … … 25.7 43.3 14.0
Financial year 1936–37 … … … … 31.2 44.0 15.0
Financial year 1937–38 … … … … 32.5 45.4 16.0
Financial year 1938–39 … … … … 33.2 46.2 17.0
Financial year 1939–40 … … … … 33.9 47.3 19.5
Financial year 1940–41 … … … … 44.8 54.1 20.5
Financial year 1941–42 … … … … 48.7 57.9 21.5
Financial year 1942–43 … … … … 50.2 58.7 22.5
Financial year 1943–44 … … … … 51.9 60.5 22.5
Financial year 1944–45 … … … … 51.1 61.0 22.5
Financial year 1945–46 … … … … 50.4 62.1 22.5
Financial year 1946–47 … … … … 88.4 86.0 12.0
*These comprised widows' and orphans' pensions, and contributory old age pensions payable up to age 70; from age 70 contributory pensioners received the Exchequer-financed old age pension under the Old Age Pensions Acts, without having to satisfy a means test, by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Acts.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the maximum sum that a man aged 65 retiring in October, 1946 could have contributed towards his pension; and how much he would have drawn in benefit up to the end of the first quarter of 1965 if he were a single or married person, respectively.

will list in tabular form for each year to 1946 the amount of weekly contribution payable under the contributory pensions Acts by employee and employer, respectively, the total amounts so contributed, the total sum paid out in benefit, and the amount of the Exchequer subsidy.

Mr. Pentland

The following is the information:

Mr. Pentland

The contributions payable from 1926 towards his pension by a man aged 65 retiring in October, 1946 and his employer could have totalled some £30. Pension at the full standard rate from then until the end of this month would amount, for a single man, rather less than £2,000 and, for a married couple, to rather over £3,200.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the minimum amount which a person aged 65 who retired in October, 1946 would have contributed to give title to full National Insurance pension.

Mr. Pentland

The amount would be £7 16s. (including employer's contributions), if there were a man who before January, 1936 paid the absolute minimum of 104 contributions, and then maintained his insurance up to 1946 by excusal of contributions for periods of sickness in such a way as to satisfy the other conditions for full pension.

Mrs. Thatcher

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many pensioners are receiving less than the full National Insurance pension because of a deficient contribution record, or for other reasons, respectively; and how many of each group are receiving less than half the current rates.

Mr. Pentland

It is estimated that about 300,000 retirement pensioners are now entitled to pensions at reduced rates. The latest available breakdown by rates and reasons is for 31st December, 1963, when 245,000 pensions were reduced because of contribution deficiencies, of which some 21,000 were at less than half the standard rates. In addition about 34,000 were reduced for other reasons, but the number of these paid at less than half rate is not known.

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