§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will draw up a scheme whereby men aged 60 years and over will be entitled, if they so wish, to retire and receive the equivalent of unemployment benefit by way of advanced pension payment, up to the age of 65 years, without affecting their State pension entitlement from the age of 65 years onwards.
§ Mr. OrmeI have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has no proposals for such a scheme, which would, in effect, incur much of the very large cost of a general lowering of men's retirement age to 60.