asked Her Majesty's Government:How old age pensions in the United Kingdom compare with those in other EC countries, and whether they will publish a table showing the value of old age pensions in each member state in the EC.

It is not possible to make a valid comparison between the value of retirement pensions in the United Kingdom and those in other European Community member states because of substantial differences in the structure of pension schemes and in the nature and extent of other support available to elderly people in different states. Most state pension schemes in other European Community member states are related to individuals' own earnings and there are thus considerable variations in the levels of pensions actually received within countries. Information on the calculation of retirement pensions in EC member states is set out in the publication Tables of Social Benefit Systems in the European Communities, a copy of which is in the Library.