asked the Minister of Social Security, what is the maximum anyone who retired on 1st January, 1968 can have contributed to his retirement pension; with the pension at the present level, how much pension in total he may expect to draw, assuming the current expectation of life; what is the capital value of his pension, assuming interest throughout the contribution period at 3½ per cent.; and what are the relevant figures for a married pensioner.

On the assumptions mentioned the maximum amounts that could have been paid for retirement pension by a man and his employer are £320 and £325 respectively with a total capital value of about £855. If the man was aged 65 on retirement he could expect to draw on average £3,100 in pension, the capital value of which would be £2,400; if he had a wife aged 60, the two of them could expect to draw on average £6,800, the capital value of which would be £4,800.