§ Mr. Hordernasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of abolishing the earnings rule for pensioners; and what extra cost would be involved if those who had been unemployed for over a year were eligible for retirement benefit at 60 years.
§ Mr. RossiIt is estimated that the cost to the national insurance fund of abolishing the earnings rule and retirement conditions would be about £140 million in a full year at 1982–83 benefit levels, or a net cost to public funds of about £55 million a year. An early retirement scheme for men from age 60 which is conditioned on one year's unemployment would add some £10 million a year to the costs of abolishing the earnings rule, on the assumption that only working wives of such men would be affected.