§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people above retirement age are in full-time work and not receiving retirement pension; how many are now with dependent wives; what were the equivalent numbers of people in each of 106W the last five years; and what would be the estimated cost of abolishing the retirement rule so that they will in future receive national insurance retirement pension.
§ Mr. O'MalleyFirm figures for the number of people who have title to pension on their own insurance but choose to defer retirement, normally because they are in full-time work, are available only up to 1974. For the five years ending then the numbers were:
(1) (2) (3) Year Total number deferring retirement Number of married men with dependent wives included in (2) 1970 … … 240,000 125,000 1971 … … 225,000 120,000 1972 … … 215,000 115,000 1973 … … 200,000 110,000 1974 … … 185,000 100,000 It is estimated that the current number of deferments is 120,000—including 70,000 men with dependent wives—and that after the change in the earnings rule in April these figures will fall to 70,000 and 45,000 respectively. On that basis the abolition of the retirement condition and earnings rule in April 1976 would cost £110 million in 1976–77 at current rates of benefit.
Mr. Wm Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the total amount of pension payable during their lives to (a) a single woman, (b) a single man, and (c) a married couple, at present rates, if, in each case, they retired at the normal ages and died at the average ages for each sex.
§ Mr. O'MalleyAssuming that each person concerned reaches pensionable age at the present time, and has entitlement to a standard rate retirement pension which starts immediately, at present pension rates a single woman will, on average, receive £14,230 in pension, a single man, £8,470, and a married couple £19,730. In the latter case, the wife is assumed to be five years younger than the husband and to have no entitlement to pension on her own contribution record; and the figure includes her continuing entitlement to pension as a widow.