§ 120. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what action he proposes to take in view of the continuing loss of purchasing power of retirement pensions.
§ 121. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in view of the recent increases in the prices of many essential commodities, he will take steps to raise the level of retirement pensions.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have nothing to add to my Answer to similar Questions on 28th January, except on the subject of prices, to invite the attention of the hon. Members to what was said on 29th January by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis).
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§ 126. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of requests and resolutions he has received from local authorities urging an increase in the basic rate of old-age pensions.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) on 28th January.
§ 127. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is now the value of the purchasing power of the £2 per week basic old-age pension at the present time, compared with its value in 1955.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI take it the hon. Member is referring to the standard rate of the National Insurance retirement pension which was 32s. 6d. up to April, 1955, and has been 40s. since that date. On the basis of the retail prices index, 40s. today is the equivalent of 37s. in April, 1955.