§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the United Kingdom are currently of pensionable age; how many of these draw a national insurance retirement pension; what percentage of the total population both of these figures represent; and what is her estimate of similar figures for 1986 and 1996, respectively.
§ Mr. MeacherThe information requested is as follows:
about 18½ per cent. on the assumptions stated. Virtually the whole of the current expenditure from the National Insurance Fund is met from income from current contributions and a Treasury supplement of 18 per cent. of those contributions.