Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Pensions – 4 July 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensions on 4th July 1986.

Mr. Kirkwood Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the additional full-year costs of advancing the date of qualification for retirement pension to the beginning of the week within which the qualifying birthday falls.

Mr. Major To advance the date of qualification for state retirement pension in this way would entail paying pensions for periods for which no entitlement exists, because the qualifying birthday is the minimum age at which state retirement pension becomes payable. The gross full year cost would be in the order of £20 million on the benefit rates applicable from July 1986.