§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions on a common state pension age for men and women, in the light of the recent European Court of Justice ruling in the Barberv. Guardian Royal Exchange group case.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe Barber judgment dealt with pensions paid under a contracted-out scheme. It distinguished these from benefits awarded under statutory social security schemes. The Government's position on a common state pension age was set out in our response in April to the report of the Select Committee in another place.