HC Deb 07 April 1971 vol 815 cc167-77W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, how frequently the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in Italy is revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pen- sion payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(2) from information available from international sources how frequently the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in Belgium is revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(3) from information available from international sources how frequently the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in the Netherlands is revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(4) from information available from international sources how frequently the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in Luxembourg is revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(5) from information available from international sources, how frequently the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in the Federal Republic of Germany is revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(6) from information available from international sources, how frequently the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in France is revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme.

Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, how frequently is the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in the Federal Republic of Germany revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(2) from information available from international sources, how frequently is the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in France revised in order to keep it in line changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(3) from information available from international sources, how frequently is the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in Italy revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(4) from information available from international sources, how frequently is the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in the Netherlands revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(5) from information available from international sources, how frequently is the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in Belgium revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(6) from information available from international sources, how frequently is the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in Luxembourg revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels; and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(7) from information available from international sources, on average how frequently is the cash value of the retirement pension payable under the social security scheme in the European Economic Community revised in order to keep it in line with changes in price and wage levels: and how this compares with the average frequency over the last 10 years of changes in the cash value of the retirement pension payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme.

Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in Italy under the social security scheme; and how this compares with the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(2) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in France under the social security scheme; and how this compares with the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(3) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the six member countries of the European Economic Community taken as a whole under the social security scheme; and how this compares with the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(4) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in Belgium under the social security scheme; and how this compares with the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(5) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the Netherlands under the social security scheme; and how this compares with the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(6) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in Luxembourg under the social security scheme; and how this compares with the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(7) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the Federal Republic of Germany under the social security scheme; and how this compares with the cash value per year of retirement pensions payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme.

Mr. Miscampbell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value of maternity allowances payable under social security schemes in Luxembourg; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(2) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value of maternity allowances payable under the social security scheme in the Federal Republic of Germany; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(3) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value of maternity allowances payable under the social security scheme in France; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(4) from information available from international sources, what is the average cash value of maternity allowances payable under social security schemes in the six member countries of the European Economic Community taken as a whole; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(5) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value of maternity allowances payable under the social security scheme in Belgium; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(6) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value of maternity allowances payable under the social security scheme in the Netherlands; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(7) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value of maternity allowances payable under the social security scheme in Italy; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme.

Mr. Laurance Reed

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, what is the level of cash benefit payable for sickness under the social security scheme in Luxembourg; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(2) from information available from international sources, what is the level of cash benefit payable for sickness under the social security scheme in the Federal Republic of Germany; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(3) from information available from international sources, what is the level of cash benefit payable for sickness under the social security scheme in Italy; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(4) from information available from international sources, what is the average level of cash benefit payable for sickness under social security schemes in the six member countries of the European Economic Community taken as a whole; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(5) from information available from international sources, what is the level of cash benefit payable for sickness under the social security scheme in France; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(6) from information available from international sources, what is the level of cash benefit payable for sickness under the social security scheme in Belgium; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(7) from information available from international sources, what is the level of cash benefit payable for sickness under the social security scheme in the Netherlands; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, what is the average level of cash benefit payable for sickness under social security schemes in the six member countries of the European Economic Community taken as a whole; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(2) from information available from international sources, what is the level of cash benefit payable for sickness under the Social Security Scheme in the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; and how this compares with the level of cash sickness benefit payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value of maternity allowances payable under the social security schemes in the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme;

(2) from information available from international sources, what is the average cash value of maternity allowances payable under social security schemes in the six member countries of the European Economic Community taken as a whole; and how this compares with the cash value of maternity allowances payable in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Scheme.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per month of family allowance payable for the second and each subsequent child under the social security schemes in the Common Market; and how this compares with the cash value per month of family allowances for the second and each subsequent child payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(2) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per month of family allowance payable for the second and each subsequent child under the social security scheme in the Netherlands; and how this compares with the cash value per month of family allowances for the second and each subsequent child payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(3) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per month of family allowance payable for the second and each subsequent child under the social security scheme in Belgium; and how this compares with the cash value per month of family allowances for the second and each subsequent child payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(4) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per month of family allowance payable for the second and each subsequent child under the social security scheme in Italy; and how this compares with the cash value per month of family allowances for the second and each subsequent child payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(5) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per month of family allowance payable for the second and each subsequent child under the social security schemes in the Federal Republic of Germany; and how this compares with the cash value per month of family allowances for the second and each subsequent child payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(6) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per month of family allowance payable for the second and each subsequent child under the social security scheme in France; and how this compares with the cash value per month of family allowances for the second and each subsequent child payable under the National Insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom;

(7) from information available from international sources, what is the cash value per month of family allowance payable for the second and each subsequent child under the social security scheme in Luxembourg; and how this compares with the cash value per month of family allowances for the second and each subsequent child under the National insurance Scheme in the United Kingdom.

Sir K. Joseph

There are comparative tables in the Library on family allowances, maternity allowances, sickness benefit, old-age pensions, and other social security benefits in the Six and the United Kingdom. In particular, those tables set out the rules for calculating benefit rates and all the information that is available about average rates of benefit in the Six and the frequency of increases of pension rates. In the past 10 years retirement pensions in the United Kingdom have been increased on five occasions.

Mr. Lane

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national product is spent by the Netherlands on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom;

(2) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national income is spent by Luxembourg on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom;

(3) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national income is spent by Belgium on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom;

(4) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national income is spent by Italy on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom;

(5) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national income is spent by France on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom;

(6) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national income is spent by the Federal Republic of Germany on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom;

(7) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national income is spent by the Common Market countries as a whole on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom.

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national income is spent by the Common Market countries on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom;

(2) from information available from international sources, what proportion of gross national income is spent by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg on retirement pensions; and how this compares with the United Kingdom.

Sir K. Joseph

I regret that the comparable information is not available. The Statistical Office of the Community does not publish figures of expenditure on retirement pensions separately from other social security expenditure, and in any case I doubt whether meaningful comparisons could be made because of the widely differing coverage of State pensions systems in the different countries.

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