§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost annually of bringing down the retirement age for men to the age of 60 years; and what would be the cost each year of lowering the age one year for the following five years.
§ Mr. O'MalleyOn the assumption that the pattern of retirement of men during the first five years after the lower age would be the same as it is now between 65 and 70, the extra annual costs to the National Insurance Fund and in supplementary pensions, at the rates of benefit to be introduced later this month, are estimated to be as follows:
Pension age for men Extra costs(£ million) 64 270 63 570 62 890 61 1,240 60 1,580
§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she has any plans to lower the retirement age for men so that both men and women retire at the age of 60 years.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI see no prospect of this at present.