§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the current cost of increasing the over-eighties' national insurance addition from 25p to £5.
§ Mr. Arthur Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the current cost of increasing the over-80s national insurance addition to £5.
§ Mr. DeakinsIt is estimated that to increase the age addition from 25p a week to £5 in respect of retirement pensions and old persons' pensions would cost an extra £350 million a year. There would, however, be an offsetting saving in supplementary benefit in the region of £80 million a year.
§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the current cost of paying the national insurance addition of 25p., at 75, instead of at 80 years.
§ Mr. Arthur Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what would be the current cost of paying the national insurance addition of 25p at 75 instead of at 80 years.
§ Mr. DeakinsIt is estimated that to introduce the age addition of 25p a week for retirement pensions at 75 would cost an additional £20 million a year. There would, however, be an offsetting saving of about £5 million a year in supplementary benefit.