§ Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why a constituent of the hon. Member for Twickenham, details of which have been sent to him, who retired on 28th February from a lifetime of work as a musician partly employed and partly self-employed, has not yet received his pension book; and what action he intends to put this right as a matter of urgency.
§ Mr. OrmeBecause the hon. Member's constituent had deferred his retirement beyond pensionable age he was entitled388W to increases to the basic rate of his retirement pension. A pension book was not issued to him immediately following his retirement because the final rate of pension had not been determined. However, payment of the basic rate of pension was made to him at the proper time by Giro cheque. Inquiries to establish the amount of extra pension due to him for deferred retirement took longer than expected, but they have now been completed and a book has been issued for payment of the full pension from 1st June 1978 and arrears have been paid. I am writing to the hon. Member giving full details and asking him to convey my apologies to his constituent for the delay in issuing the pension book to him.