§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated annual cost of unemployment pay in Wales on the basis of the annualised effect of the unemployment levels pertaining in Wales in January 1976.
§ Mr. MeacherIt is estimated that the cost of unemployment benefit and supplementary allowances paid to unemployed persons would be of the order of £75 million.
BELGIUM Men Women 1. Normal pension age … … … … … 65 60 2. Where there is 45 years' insurance … … … … … 64 59 3. If claimed earlier (sometimes rate is reduced by 5 per cent. for each year before normal age) 60 55 4. Sailors and sea-fishermen … … … … … 60 — 5. Miners (surface workers) … … … … … 60 — 6. Miners (underground workers) … … … … … 55 — Retirement is necessary. DENMARK Men Women 1. Normal pension age— (a) national pension … … … … … 67 62 (b) second pension … … … … … 67 67 2. Those in ill-health or where other special circumstances apply … 60 60 Retirement is not necessary. FRANCE Men Women Normal pension age … … … … … 60 60 There is no retirement condition at present. Those who have 37½ years' insurance can claim a pension of 25 per cent. of their insurable earnings at age 60 but it is usual to defer claiming pension until between age 64 and 65, when the standard pension is 50 per cent. of insurable earnings. Pensions which would have been earned by working up to age 65 can currently be paid at age 60 to those unfit for work, to those who were deported or interned during the war, to certain ex-service men and to certain ex-prisoners of war. From July 1976 certain manual workers also will be able to take advantage of a similar arrangement, provided they do not continue to follow the same occupation in the same firm.