§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will make it his policy to bring the British state pension into line with that paid by other EEC countries, with the advent of the single European market in 1992.
§ Mr. ScottThe single European market in 1992 does not require the harmonisation of state pension schemes between member states.
It is impossible to make simple comparisons between very different social security systems. For example only three countries—the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Denmark—pay flat rate retirement pensions. However, European Statistical Bureau figures show the United Kingdom spends the third highest share of gross domestic product on the elderly.