HC Deb 01 July 1980 vol 987 cc479-80W
19. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report representations he has received about the pensionable ages of men and women.

Mr. Prentice

Recent representations on this subject have been received from the Institute of Personnel Management, the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations, the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the National Union of Railwaymen. The representations were con- cerned with reductions in pension age and equal ages for men and women.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to create greater flexibility in the arrangements for retirement which would allow people to retire at a time best suited to their individual needs.

Mr. Prentice

I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 3 June.—[Vol. 985, c.613.]

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what resources are available in order that action may be taken regarding the matter of pension age for men;

(2) whether he will make a statement regarding an earlier retirement age for men.

Mr. Prentice

There are no resources available to reduce men's pension age, and my right hon. Friend, therefore, has no proposals to that end.