§ 49. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will consider the advisability of gradually reducing the retirement age of men to bring it into line with that of women; and if she will give an estimate of the cost.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) earlier today.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the level of retirement pension as a percentage of the average full-time male manual weekly earnings for each year from 1966 to 1973.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe information requested is as follows:
The standard rates of retirement pension as a percentage of gross earnings Year (October) Gross earnings* Single person Married couple £ 1966 … 20.30 19.7 32.0 1967 … 21.37 21.1 34.2 1968 … 23.00 19.6 31.7 1969† … 24.83 20.1 32.8 1970 … 28.05 17.8 28.9 1971 … 30.93 19.4 31.4 1972 … 35.82 18.8 30.4 1973 … 40.92 18.9 30.5 * Average earnings of male, adult, full-time manual workers in manufacturing and certain other industries as determined by the Department of Employment's regular October enquiry. † The comparison is with the pension rate introduced on 3rd November 1969.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the total cost of increasing retirement pension to £15 a week for a single person and £20 a week for a married couple.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownWithout allowing for accompanying changes in other benefits, the cost would be about £1,520 million a year.
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§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the total cost of introducing a retirement pension of £10 a week for every single male person at 60.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) earlier today.