§ 192. Sir George YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the implications of the abolition of the earnings rule.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardAbolition of the earnings rule on 1 October means greater choice and flexibility for pensioners. Women aged 60 to 64, and men aged 65 to 69 no longer have their state pension reduced on account of earnings over £75 a week. They may now earn as much as they wish, work as many hours as they wish and still claim their full entitlement to the state pension. The removal of this disincentive to carry on working is expected to benefit approximately 200,000 people who previously deferred their state pension, as well as a further 200,000 who earn less than £75 a week and who may now choose to earn more.