§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications his Department has received from people wishing to take up their basic state pension entitlement whilst working under the new earnings rules introduced on 1 October; how many of them have 443W received their pension; and how many additional whole-time equivalent staff his Department has employed to administer the new entitlement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardFollowing the abolition of the earnings rule on 1 October 1989, 99,645* pensioners have claimed their state pension. A total of 72 per cent. (72,435) of those pensioners had been awarded their pension as at 10 November 1989. The estimated administrative cost for this exercise in the year 1989–90 is £12.74 million.
* Note: As at 31 October 1989.