§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many occupational pensioners, between 60 and 65 years, have occupational pensions of over £35; and how many are drawing unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. PrenticeIt is estimated, from survey data, that some 110,000 people aged between 60 and 65 years were receiving an occupational pension exceeding £25 per week in 1977. That is the latest date for which information is available. This might be considered to be equivalent to £35 per week in November 1980. It is estimated that of these about 20,000 were drawing unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has chosen the sum of £35 per week occupational pension as the likely figure above which unemployed occupational pensioners, aged between 60 and 65 years, will lose unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe intention is that only a substantial occupational pension should be taken into account. The figure of £35 would ensure that a married man with the standard flat-rate of unemployment benefit, including an increase for his wife, receives some benefit unless his occupational pension exceeds £68 a week in 1981.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many occupational pensioners aged between 60 and 65 years, have lost entitlement to unemployment benefit in each of past four years, due to a decision of the insurance officer that they were not genuinely available for employment.
§ Mr. PrenticeI regret that the information requested is not available. Statistics for disallowances do not show whether the unsuccessful claimant is an occupational pensioner.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Servcies how many occupational pensioners, between 60 and 65 years of age, are registered as unemployed and drawing unemployment benefit.
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§ Mr. PrenticeIt is estimated that about 70,000–80,000 occupational pensioners aged 60 to 65 are registered as unemployed and that some 40,000 are in receipt of unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement showing the treatment of occupational pensioners under statutory retirement age with respect to claims for unemployment benefit in each of the EEC member States.
§ Mr. PrenticeI have at present no information on this aspect of entitlement to unemployment benefit in other member States of the European Community.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the public sector pension schemes which provide for a reduction in occupational pension once the beneficiary is receiving State retirement pension.
§ Mr. PrenticeI am advised that virtually all public sector pension schemes make some provision for modification of the occupational pension on account of national insurance retirement pension. The method of modification varies from scheme to scheme.