HC Deb 18 December 1975 vol 902 cc762-3W
Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is now able to provide the estimated saving of reducing the period during which a retirement pensioner can stay at a National Health Service hospital without reduction in his pension from eight weeks to none.

Mr. Meacher

Of the order of £30 million a year, offset by administrative costs of about £4 million. In the light of further work since my reply to the hon. Member on 4th November—[Vol. 899, c.107]—it is estimated that the cost of extending from eight to sixteen weeks the period during which a retirement pensioner can stay at an NHS hospital without a reduction in his pension would be about £4 million a year.