§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of people still alive who did not exercise the option available to them under Section 71(3) of the National Insurance Act, 1946, and Regulation 4 of the National Insurance New Entrants Transitional Regulations, 1949, to continue to pay contributions to qualify for a pension, and who despite the National Insurance Act, 1970, are still not eligible to receive a State pension.
§ Mr. DeanWe cannot make a reliable estimate, but, including wives and widows, there may be some 35,000–40,000 people surviving who did not take up the option. These people are not eligible for pensions under the National Insurance Act, 1970, but some may be receiving other forms of State pension, for example supplementary pension. They are among the people who are now to receive pensions at the next uprating if they have reached the age of 80, or at the age of 80 when they attain it subsequently.