Vol. 407 No. 3
150 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost or estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing the old age contributory pensions for persons with 20 contributions and over to £77.50 per week for single persons and £124 for married couples and where benefit is payable at (a) the age of 66 years and (b) the age of 65 years.
151 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social Welfare the costs or estimated costs to the Exchequer of increasing old age non contributory pensions to £77.50 per week for a single person and £124 for a married couple, where benefit is payable at the age of 66 years and where the means test is (a) retained, (b) abolished and (c) abolished where payment is subject to income tax.
152 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social Welfare the costs or estimated costs to the Exchequer of increasing old age non contributory pensions to £77.50 per week for a single person and £124 for a married couple, where benefit is payable at the age of 65 years and where the means test is (a) retained, (b) abolished, and (c) abolished where payment is subject to income tax.
153 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social Welfare the costs or estimated costs to the Exchequer of increasing the retirement pension to £77.50 per week for a single person and £124 for married couples.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 150, 151, 152 and 153 together.
The additional full year cost of increasing the personal rate of old age contributory pension to £77.50 and the married rate to £124 and extending pension entitlement to people aged 65 is estimated at £88 million. The cost of increasing retirement pensions to these rates is £48 million.
