New British pensions plan

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33783, 4 March 1975, Page 8

New British pensions plan

(N.Z.P. A.Reuter—Copyright) LONDON.

The British Government has published a comprehensive plan for a new national pensions scheme which would ensure half pay on retirement for millions of married couples.

ft would also end discrimination against women on social security payments, giving them the right to enjoy full equality with men: women would receive the same benefits as men with the same earnings, and there would be more generous help for widows.

The Labour Administration regards the proposed measure — which it hopes will become law by the summer — as the most important social advance in Britain for years.

The proposed starting date, April, 1978. may be advanced 12 months, but the scheme will take 20 years to mature fully. Contributions will be paid on earnings throughout a working life, and the lower- ; paid contributors will receive the best deal: they will retire on full pay or more. In future, pensions will be reckoned on each worker’s 20 best-paid years, and the value of pension rights will be guaranteed both before and after retirement. Swimming. — Igor Yevgrafov (Russia; set a European record in Leningrad when he clocked Bmin 30.165ee for the men’s 800n> during a 1500 m event at an interi national meeting.