§ Mr. Dan Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the graduated pension scheme contribution and pay-out figures are no longer available in the Department of Health and Social Security's annual report; and what will happen to the scheme's balance of funds when the scheme is abolished in 1975.
§ Sir K. JosephStatistical information previously given in my Department's annual report is now included in a 57W separate annual publication Social Security Statistics. The first issue, for 1972, was published recently. Expenditure on graduated retirement benefit, which is paid as part of the ordinary retirement pension, is not shown separately but separate estimates are given in the annual accounts of the National Insurance Fund.
On the latter part of the Question, the graduated contributions and graduated pension payable from 1961 are not, and never have been, a separate scheme: they form part of the general income and outgo of the National Insurance Fund which, from 1975 onwards, will continue its existence under the Social Security Act 1973.