§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set a date for the phasing out of the earnings rule for retirement pensioners.
§ Mr. Rossi:The earnings limit for retirement pensioners will be increased from £52 to £57 from this November. We remain committed to abolishing the rule but it has not proved possible to do this yet. It would cost about £140 million a year gross. I cannot at this stage forecast a date for abolition.