§ Mr. Hobdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost of providing an additional 10s. and an additional £1, respectively, to all persons in receipt of the state retirement pension out of public funds; and what estimate he has made of the increase in National Insurance contributions required to meet such increases solely out of stamp contributions.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe cost of increasing the basic retirement pension for a single person by 10s. and £1, with proportionate increases for a married couple, would be about £170 million and £340 million a year, respectively. If the additional cost were to be met out of flat rate contributions, with no increase in the Exchequer supplement, the contribution for an employed man would go up by ls. 9d. a week for the 10s. increase and by 3s. 5d. a week for the £1 increase, with similar increases for his employer. Consequential alterations to other benefits would increase the cost considerably.