§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, at the present average rate of national insurance contribution and benefit which (1) an employed man and (2) a self-employed man pays in the five years from the age of 60 to 65 in contributions, what total retirement pension at present rates on average a women receives between the ages of 60 and 65 years inclusive; and what regulations govern the change of sex from male to female for national insurance purposes.
§ Mr. O'MalleyOn the basis of present average earnings and rates of contributions, over five years, an employed man would pay about £850 and his employers about £1,350 in contributions. A self-employed man with the same earnings would pay about £1,250. Over the same period a woman entitled to a standard-rate retirement pension on her own contributions would receive about £3,470 plus, on the basis of the latest available figure for the average amount of graduated pension for which women qualify at age 60, an additional £70 in graduated pension. There are no national insurance regulations relating to a change of sex, but for pension purposes a person is treated as being of the same biological sex as he or she was at birth. If the hon. Member has any particular problem in mind perhaps he would be good enough to write to me.