§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest estimates of(a) the number of people deferring retirement and earning increments to their retirement pensions, (b) the number of people whose pensions are reduced by the earnings rule and (c) the cost of abolishing (i) the retirement condition and (ii) the earnings rule.
§ Mr. ScottIt is estimated that about 125,000 people over minimum pension age are currently deferring retirement and earning increments to their pensions. There are just over 2,000 people whose pensions are reduced by the earnings rule. This figure does not include adult dependants for whom the dependency addition is reduced on account of their earnings. The latest estimates show that it would cost about £250 million gross to abolish the earnings rule. It is not possible to provide separate costings for the abolition of the retirement condition and the earnings rule.