§ Dr. HampsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of allowing men and women to retire at 60 years on 80 per cent. of the national average wage.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested is not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The cost of providing state retirement pensions to men and women at age 60 has been estimated at £3 billion a year at 1985–86 prices.
§ Dr. HampsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of paying pensioners £100 per week over the present rates.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe cost of increasing the state retirement pension by this amount would be approximately £45.5 billion per year.