§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give, for the latest and most convenient date, the number of retired civil and public servants in receipt of index-linked pensions and the annual or weekly total amounts paid; and how these figures compare with the period immediately 171W preceding the introduction of the indexation of these pensions.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe approximate numbers of retired public servants
31st August 1971 1st December 1977 Numbers Thousands Annual Cost£ million Numbers Thousands Annual Cost£ million Armed Forces … 210 80 229 220 Civil Service … 172 65 245 300 Teachers … 129 55 147 265 National Health Service … 81 25 120 140 Police and Fire … 55 30 63 100 Local Government … 160 65 236 225 807 320 1,040 1,250 The Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 adjusted all pensions in payment on 1st September 1971 to 1971 prices at an immediate cost of £70 million. Beyond this, the rise in annual cost results partly from indexation but also from the increased number of pensioners over the period, higher salary levels at the time of retirement and longer average lengths of reckonable service.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the various public services which operate retirement pension schemes; in which of these retirement does not commence until 62 years of age; and in how many cases the first five years of service is not counted for pension entitlement purposes.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe Armed Forces, Civil Service, local government, National Health Service, teaching, police and fire services all operate retirement pension schemes. The minimum retirement age exceeds 62 in local government where it is 65 unless the person has reached age 60 and has at least 25 years in reckonable and qualifying service. No scheme specifically excludes the first five years of service, but as a general rule service before the operative date of a scheme does not count for pension.