§ Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what has been the rise in the cost of living from 20th December, 1960, to the present time; by how much it would be necessary to increase the weekly pensions of married couples, National Assistance grants to married couples including average allowances for rent, sickness, coal and window cleaning to take account of this rise; and what is the average paid above the scale rate of 90s. for a married couple, taking rent and all other expenses into account.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterTo match the increase in prices between December, 1960, and December, 1961, both the standard rate of retirement pension for a married couple and the corresponding National Assistance scale rate would have to be increased by just under 4.4 per cent., or 4s. Both pensions and assistance were increased substantially in April, 1961, and now have a considerably higher real value than before the improvements made in recent years. Additions made to the National Assistance scale rates to provide for rent and. as necessary, for special needs of the kind to which the hon. Member refers are based on actual cost. As regards the last part of the Question, recent information about the average amounts of rent paid by persons receiving assistance is not yet available, and information about discretionary additions for special needs is not available separately for married couples. At the end of 1960, the average rent of couples living alone was 21s. 2d. a week, and discretionary additions for special needs averaging 7s. 6d. a week were being allowed for 62 per cent. of all retirement pensioners receiving assistance.