asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her oral answer to the hon. Member for Burnley on 24 March, how many years' maximum contributions were possible in SERPS in 1979; and what is the figure now.

The state earnings-related pensions scheme began in April 1978; a person retiring on 6 April 1979 could therefore achieve one year's contribution. For someone on average earnings, the extra benefit amounted to 95p a week. This figure has, of course, been uprated in each year since. A person retiring on 6 April 1986, with a maximum of eight years in the scheme, would have received £16·25 in additional pension if he had been on average earnings. It is estimated that for April 1987, with a maximum of nine years contributions, a newly-retiring pensioner who had been on average earnings would receive £20·05 a week.