§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has yet received a report by the Government Actuary on the operation of the Social Security Acts since 1975.
§ Mr. FowlerI have laid before the House the report that the Government Actuary has made on the operation of the Social Security Acts between April 1975 and April 1980 in accordance with section 137 of the Social Security Act 1975. The report provides principally a detailed analysis of the possible future costs of benefits paid out of the national insurance fund and of the contributions that will be needed to pay for them. The Government will be considering this report very carefully before reaching any conclusions. We shall also be consulting widely with interested organisations and inviting comments by the end of this year.