The Economic Secretary to the Treasury wrote in a written ministerial answer that the Government made the announcement in 2014, and that the decision was "reflecting trends in longevity and encouraging individuals to remain in work".
The move comes amid ongoing changes to the state pension age - which is set to reach 66 for men and women next month, ahead of further rises.
Have you been affected by changes to the state pension age? And will the changes to when you can access to your pension savings affect your retirement plans?
Mr Sunak has so far kept his plans under wraps, but plenty of experts have given their opinion on what may be to come.
Earlier this year, Becky O’Connor, personal finance specialist at Royal London, told Express.co.uk: “The best things in life might be free, but billions of pounds of Government support is not.
It is understood he went out socialising in Enniskillen on Sunday after returning from holiday in Spain, before later testing positive.
Police have confirmed a second person was fined on Friday for a breach of the International Travel Regulations.
The PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) also confirmed that between 30 March to 4 September there have been a total of 479 fines issued for breaches of coronavirus regulations.
No fines have been issued in relation to the wearing of face masks on public transport.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said it was a key role for the police to "support our public health colleagues and the NI Executive to ensure we all play our part in stopping the spread of the coronavirus and save lives".
On Friday, 61 new positive cases of the virus were confirmed in Northern Ireland, bringing the total to 7,503.
There was one further death, meaning there have now been 564 Covid-linked deaths in Northern Ireland recorded by the Department of Health.
Leeds has been added to the official watchlist of "area of concern" after a rise in coronavirus cases.
The problem has been partly blamed on young people attending gatherings and house parties.
The city council urged residents to "do their bit" to stop COVID-19 spreading ahead of the weekend.
It said the viruscase rate is now 32.4 per 100,000 people and infections are spread across different parts of Leeds "meaning they may be linked to social interaction and leisure activities".
The council added coronavirus is being "increasingly detected in younger people aged 18-34, with some concern over activities like house parties and gatherings".
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Andrew Carter, a local councillor who heads the Conservative group, told Sky News the change was "quite right" as there has been a "whiff of complacency".
He complained parts of the city have been "left without much testing locally at all" - with one drive-through centre running "way below capacity".
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Image:The UK's R rate stands between 0.9 and 1.1
It comes as the virus growth rate rose slightly from being between -2% and 1% to between -1% and 2% per day.
While the UK-wide R number - the average number of people someone with COVID-19 passes it on to - stayed the same at between 0.9 and 1.1.
The "areas of concern" list is published every Friday, revealing how coronavirus is spreading broken down by region.
But lots of other areas already facing greater restrictions saw cases decreasing, including Pendle, Oldham, Blackburn with Darwen, Manchester, Rochdale and Salford - although they remained at a high level relative to other parts of the country.
That led to the government initially saying it would ease tighter measures in Bolton and Trafford.
But after calls not to by the local councils, ministers U-turned and kept rules the same, meaning residents cannot socialise with other households in their own homes, gardens, pubs or restaurants for the foreseeable future.
Bolton and Corby have been identified by scientists at Imperial College London as the potential next COVID-19 hotspots.
Analysis: Is the glass half-empty or half-full? By Rowland Manthorpe, technology correspondent
At the height of the pandemic, the government made a concerted effort to educate the public about the importance of the R number. When it stays below 1, we were told, everything is going well.
So is today's news that the R for England has remained between 0.9 and 1.1 for the third successive week a cause for celebration?
In truth, it's hard to say.
With a range like that, it could be rising, falling or staying stable, so it very much depends on your perspective.
For glass-half-full types it's reassuring. For those who see a glass as half empty, it's disappointing.
The reality is that, at low prevalence, the R number is weak guide to the state of the outbreak.
Go through the minutes of SAGE and you'll see the government's scientific advisers making this point repeatedly.
One senior scientist admitted that by encouraging people to focus on it, "we've created a monster."
It may be a little boring, but we should react to today's news in England the same way we react to yesterday's rise in Scotland: by not reading into it too much.
Opposition MPs are demanding an investigation and for police action to be taken if the claims are found to be true. But Tory MPs have hit back at the allegations, saying the so-called gathering would pass current rules as it was held at a workplace as part of their job. Gatherings of more than 30 people are currently illegal under the Government's COVID-19 guidelines. Those who break the rules on illegal gatherings could risk a fine of up to £3,200.
Commenting on the story today, the Prime Minister's spokesman did not deny the claims.
But they added: "The Prime Minister abides by the social distancing rules that are in place."
Three MPs told Bloomberg the group was packed into a room limited to just 29.
Although some MPs did adhere to social distancing measures, late arrivals to the meeting were forced to pack tightly into the room.
Despite the criticism towards the Prime Minister, chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, Sir Graham Brady, claimed social distancing measures were maintained during the meeting.
He added: "It's a workplace and social distancing of one metre plus was maintained as per Government guidance for other workplaces.
"Obviously it is important that the democratic process is not interrupted.”
In criticism of the alleged gathering, Lib Dem MP for Norden, Wera Hobhouse and Scottish Lib Dem MP for North East Fife, Wendy Chamberlain, wrote a letter to Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg seeking assurances on the matter.
This comes as the Government has pledged to push forward with a new nationwide testing strategy.
This week Health Secretary, Matt Hancock revealed a new £500million investment in community testing trials across the country.
While this new regime will be brought in, it will not replace the UK's push for a new vaccine.
It will also run alongside the Test and Trace programme.
He said: "Short of a vaccine, this is the best chance we have of reducing social distancing whilst controlling the virus, especially with winter coming, with all the challenges that brings.
"At the moment the system works well. Of course there are operational challenges from time to time but it works well.
“And we’re finding a higher and higher proportion of people in the country who have coronavirus and getting them tests so they can be looked after.
“But absolutely we need to roll out more testing – we have done throughout this crisis and today’s another step in solving some of those problems with the existing technology.”
Waverley Excursion, the company that owns and operates the paddle steamer, said on its website: "[The] Waverley made heavy contact while berthing at Brodick Pier on Thursday 3rd September and will be unable to undertake any further sailings this season.
"An investigation into the incident is ongoing."
Police, paramedics, coastguard and rescue helicopters were called to the pier when the alarm was raised at 17.15.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing people falling over when the boat struck the pier earlier in the day.
Rita McLeod, who was waiting to board the Waverley, said she saw people with head injuries, and heard of one who required an air ambulance.
"We were actually queued up waiting to get in when it crashed," she said.
"It came in bow first. It came in far too fast. We saw a lot of people falling and there were people taken away in ambulances.
"We saw a lot of people, pretty badly shaken, coming off."
Passengers who had been waiting to board the paddle steamer had feared that they might have to spend the night at the terminal.
But Calmac's Caledonian Isles ferry was sent to pick them up late on Thursday night following discussions between Transport Scotland and the Marine and Coastguard Agency
Robbie Drummond, managing director of CalMac, said: "We were more than happy to help return passengers to the mainland and worked closely with agencies including Waverley Excursions, who transported everyone onwards once they landed in Ardrossan."
He added: "I would like to extend my deep gratitude to the crew on the Caledonian Isles and at Brodick and Ardrossan"
Massive explosion 'launches gas bottles hundreds of feet in the air' as ten fire engines battle huge blaze with giant 'mushroom cloud' at industrial building near holiday park
A 'mushroom cloud' soared into the skies this morning near Rochester, Kent
Forces veteran living nearby compared it to explosions he saw with the Army
No casualties have been reported in the blaze but public told to stay clear
A 'mushroom cloud' soared into the skies in Kent this morning as a huge fire tore through an industrial building.
Gas bottles were said to have launched hundreds of feet in the air as witnesses reported seeing and hearing two explosions, before ten fire engines were scrambled to battle flames in the early hours.
A former Royal Engineer who lives nearby said it reminded him of gas explosions he saw while working with the Army.
A 'mushroom cloud' soared into the skies in Kent this morning as a huge fire tore through an industrial building
Pictured: Smoke seen this morning billowing above an industrial building near Rochester
Firefighters were called to the scene in Vicarage Lane in Hoo, near Rochester, at 4.30am on Friday, where flames and a plume of black smoke could be seen.
Members of the public were being asked to avoid the area.
Video on social media shows huge flames from the blaze lighting up the night sky, while people posting online talked of an explosion.
The fire has continued to burn and at one point on Friday morning a billowing mushroom cloud of smoke was seen rising up into the sky.
Joe Discipline, who lives nearby, said: 'Around 4/4.30am a huge explosion shook the house and windows. I jumped out of bed to see the sky was orange.
The fire has continued to burn and at one point on Friday morning a billowing mushroom cloud of smoke was seen rising up into the sky
A former Royal Engineer said the explosion reminded him of gas explosions he had seen while working with the British Army
'There was then a second explosion, just as big, and that's when I started to record.'
As the blaze burned, a huge plume of thick black smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air, prompting the fire service to tell nearby members of the public to close windows and doors.
Gas cylinders were involved in the blaze.
No casualties have yet been reported, the fire service said.
Paul, 60, who chose not to give his second name, lives on St Mary's Island, across the River Medway from the fire, where he awoke and watched from around 5am.
People took to the streets to catch a glimpse of the huge explosion in Hoo, Kent, this morning
As the blaze burned, a huge plume of thick black smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air, prompting the fire service to tell nearby members of the public to close windows and doors
'I heard cracking and things exploding, so then started to video it - then all of a sudden, boom, it was a big, big explosion,' the sales manager said.
'I was thinking, is it going to be like Beirut? At the end of the day, you see the mushroom cloud, then there might have been a secondary explosion which was even bigger, so I was just a little bit worried.
'It was eventful to wake up to, that's for sure.'
A former Royal Engineer, Paul said the explosion reminded him of gas explosions he had seen while working with the British Army.
'I was just concerned that nobody was hurt ... because of that size of explosion, it's going to blow a few windows out, that's for sure,' he added.
Ten fire engines were sent to the scene as firefighters continued to tackle the blaze
Video on social media shows huge flames from the blaze lighting up the night sky, while people posting online talked of an explosion
Ten fire engines were sent to the scene as firefighters continued to tackle the blaze.
A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Kent Fire and Rescue Service is at the scene of an industrial building fire on Vicarage Lane in Hoo, near Rochester.
'Ten fire engines and a height vehicle are in attendance, and crews are working to tackle the blaze.
'Firefighters are advising the public to avoid the area while the emergency services deal with the incident.'
Airport testing is not a "silver bullet" that will end the need for quarantining, the transport secretary has told Sky News.
But Grant Shapps confirmed the government was looking at cutting the amount of time travellers returning from higher-risk countries need to self-isolate for from 14 days to seven.
Ministers are facing pressure from airports and other aviation firms to "get a grip" on the quarantine policy due to the severe economic effects still faced by the industry.
Image:Airport testing is already done in France
Mr Shapps said "I hear the calls", but admitted: "I'm afraid this coronavirus is just not simple to navigate around and we have to do our best."
He pointed to France, where he said they had put in airport testing but now "realised the same thing".
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"It isn't actually the silver bullet solution to this," Mr Shapps told the Kay Burley show.
"What you've got to do is being able to test further down the line with a period of quarantine as well."
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Image:The quarantine length could be cut in half
Mr Shapps did shed light on potentially cutting the quarantine period, saying: "You probably have to have some kind of quarantine period here, perhaps seven or eight days, maybe a test then.
"But these are the thing we're working through at the moment."
Glyn Jones, chief executive of Southend Airport, said an "absence of clear advice from central government" was continuing to "erode consumer confidence".
Image:Glyn Jones urged politicians to 'put down the sledgehammer' and 'pick up the scalpel'
While ministers mull cutting the quarantine length, he urged them to act quickly to "put down the sledgehammer" of adding whole countries to the list and "pick up the scalpel" by working on a route-by-route approach.
Image:Heathrow Airport has created its own on-site testing facility
Heathrow Airport has already set up a new on-site testing base in the hope of letting people get a swab as soon as they land and have the result sent to them within seven hours.
It hopes those who test negative and then do not subsequently get coronavirus symptoms could leave quarantine five to eight days after landing.
