HC Deb 24 May 1971 vol 818 cc44-5W
Mr. Emery

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates he has made, in connection with his proposals for pensions and social security, of the cost to the Exchequer of the abolition of the earnings rule for retirement pensioners, and the cost of entirely abolishing the earnings rule, respectively.

Sir K. Joseph

Abolition of the earnings rule for retirement pensioners and, in consequence, of the retirement condition which the rule supports would cost about £110 million in a full year at the proposed new pension rates. No reliable estimates can readily be made of the cost of abolishing the rule applying to dependancy increases.