§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to enable couples, where the woman is of pensionable age and the man is not, to claim a married couple's pension.
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§ Miss WiddecombeWe have no plans to alter the basic structure of pension provision for married couples.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average number of years for which a woman currently works prior to reaching the state retirement age; and for how many years she would expect, on average, to receive that pension;
(2) what is the average number of years for which a man currently works prior to reaching the state retirement age; and for how many years he would expect, on average, to receive that pension.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe average life expectancy for a woman aged 60 is 21.69 years and for a man aged 65 is 14.06 according to the Government Actuary's Department's interim life tables. Information regarding the average length of time for which men and women work prior to state retirement age is not currently available.