§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women aged 59 years and men aged 36W 64 years have in recent weeks not been invited to apply for retirement pension due to the Civil Service dispute; and what action is planned when these persons reach retirement age.
§ Mr. RossiI regret to say that, because of industrial action which started on 9 March, some 155,000 people who are within four months of pensionable age have not received the normal invitation to claim retirement pensions and their numbers are increasing at the rate of about 12,000 a week, made up of 5,600 men and 6,400 women. Claim forms continue to be available in local social security offices and can be completed and returned to a local office up to four months before pension age to safeguard future entitlement. Supplementary benefit at present provides a first defence against hardship caused by a temporary failure in contributory benefit arrangements but we will not hesitate to introduce alternative emergency arrangements as necessary.