§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she has any plans to provide earnings-related pensions for the self-employed.
§ Mrs. CastleThe Government are in favour of earnings-related benefits in return for earnings-related contributions for the self-employed as well as for other earners, but practical difficulties have so far ruled this out under successive Governments. I am about to present a Bill, based on the White Paper "Better Pensions", which will provide earnings-related pensions for employees. Accordingly I now propose to commence a detailed re-examination of the problems involved in establishing for the self-employed a system of earnings-related pensions with corresponding contribution rates. When all the possibilities have been examined I shall present my conclusions to the House along with any proposals for further legislation on this subject.