§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT comparing the basic retirement pensions of single persons and married couples in the United Kingdom with those applying in the rest of the member States of the EEC.
§ Mr. O'MalleyFollowing are the respective current standard rates where a flat rate pension is payable:
- United Kingdom—£10 and £16.
- Republic of Ireland—£8.50 and £14.
- Netherlands—141 florins and 199 florins (after 50 years' insurance).
Denmark provides pensions of 260.77 kroner and 369.69 kroner a week respectively—as at 1st January 1974—after 40 years' insurance plus a supplement subject to a test of means. Other member States have mainly earnings-related pensions schemes.
A meaningful comparison of pensions levels cannot however be made without taking into account other factors which vary from country to country such as costs of living, levels of wages, taxation, and social security contributions and social provision generally.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make it her policy to allow contributions paid by those who reach the current retirement age, but continue working, to count towards the make-up of the retirement pension to the full amount where previous contributions have been insufficient for the maximum pension.
§ Mr. Alec JonesI am not satisfied that we should depart from arrangements under which pension entitlement is ascertained as at minimum pension age but thereafter the pension can be increased under provisions specifically designed for those who defer their retirement.