asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why retirement pensions are not paid automatically to those people reaching retirement age; and why it is necessary for claims to be made.

There is no fixed retirement age and pensions are only payable when a person actually retires from work or reaches the age of 70 or 65 in the case of a woman. Claims are needed to identify those entitled to a pension and, where necessary, to establish the fact of retirement.