HC Deb 31 July 1981 vol 9 c675W
Sir Frederic Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of paying 850,000 men the current level of basic retirement pension.

Mr. Rossi

Assuming all the men satisfied the contribution conditions for payment at the present standard basic rate of £27.15, the gross cost of their personal pensions would be £1.2 billion a year. On top of that would be the additional cost of pension payments for wives and other dependants and of any additional pension payable under the earnings-related or graduated retirement benefit schemes.