Mr. Wardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost, assuming constant earnings, of raising by £1 with effect from 1st April, 1972, the present flat-rate pension and adjusting the formula for the new scheme pension so that no fully mature new scheme pension will be less than the flat-rate pension; and what percentage contribution he estimates to be necessary in 1972 to raise this sum.
§ Mr. Ennals:About £530 million a year at the outset, which would require an addition of about 1 per cent. a side to the contributions provided for in the National Superannuation and Social Insurance Bill.