§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) men over the age of 65 years and (b) women over the age of 60 years do not qualify for a pension as their contributions fall below 25 per cent. of full contribution; and if he will break these figures down to show how many in each category have paid contributions in the following bands: under 5 per cent., 5 to 10 per cent., 10 to 15 per cent., 15 to 20 per cent. and 20 to 25 per cent.
§ Mr. WhitneyInformation on the number of people who do not qualify for any basic pension because of contribution deficiencies is not recorded centrally. In 1984–85 of 837,000 forms issued to local offices to invite a claim to retirement pension from men and women within four months of pension age 102,000 showed no entitlement to any state retirement pension. This number does not include those people who had no entitlement to basic pension but were entitled to some graduated pension or additional component.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total value of the contributions paid during their working life by (a) men over 65 years and (b) women over 60 years who are not eligible to receive a pension because their contributions fall below the required 25 per cent.; and what is the average contribution paid in each category, since 1955, or such later date as information is available.
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§ Mr. WhitneyThis information could not be produced without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women retired at 60 years on a full basic state pension in 1983–84 and 1984–85 respectively.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1985, c. 66]: In the year ended 31 March 1984, 32,650 women retired at 60 with a 100 per cent. basic pension based on their own contributions. Information for the year 1984–85 is not yet available.