asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to ensure that the ceiling placed on part-time earnings from the NHS by persons in receipt of pensions from the service is increased to take account of increased scales of remuneration.

The superannuation scheme does not place any ceiling on earnings. It does, however, restrict the amount of pension a person who has not fully retired may receive so as to ensure that his pension and pay from re-employment in the NHS, taken together, do not exceed his pay on retirement. The arrangements make due allowance for any cost of living increase in the pension before commencement of the new employment and preclude any reduction in the pension as a result of subsequent increases in pay scales in his part-time employment.