§ 53. Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action to change the position where a person over minimum retirement age who elects to continue work and is thereby liable to pay the normal earnings-related rate of graduated contributions does not receive earnings-related sickness and unemployment benefits.
§ Mr. DeanNo. It has been accepted by successive Governments that it is appropriate for people over minimum retirement age to receive sickness and unemployment benefits at a rate equivalent to the flat-rate pension which would otherwise be payable. The graduated contributions which they pay count towards extra graduated pension.