§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether a female employee aged between 60 and 64 years who has postponed her retirement will be eligible for national insurance benefit as from April 1978.
§ Mr. OrmeAll those Who have postponed retirement beyond minimum pensionable age are eligible for sickness benefit, up to age 65 for a woman and age 70 for a man, provided that they would have been entitled to a basic retirement pension had they retired at the minimum age. The sickness benefit rate is the same as the basic retirement pension which would have been payable. There will be no change in this respect from April 1978.