§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report such information as he has on the numbers in receipt of part of their pension in tax-free lump sums in 1985–86 (a) up to £25,000, (b) up to £50,000 and (c) up to £75,000 and the cost to the Exchequer for each of those bands.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1986; c. 365]: I regret that the information requested is not available. However, information from the Government Actuary Department's survey of occupational pension schemes suggests that, in 1983, about 400,000 lump sums were paid on retirement, averaging some £6,000.