To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in the light of the recent decision by the House of Lords in the case of James v. Eastleigh borough council, what changes he intends to propose in existing legislation to ensure equality of treatment between men and women in respect of the state retirement pension.

The James case was concerned with concessions to people by reference to their age. It has no effect on the law on social security, and therefore there is no need to amend that law in the light of this judgment.