§ 63. Mr. Pentlandasked the Minister of Power if he will state the proposals being made by the Central Electricity Generating Board following its examination of a suitable site for the purpose of building a new power station in the County of Durham; and what examination is being made of the Chester-le-Street area in connection with these proposals.
12Wwhether, in view of the fact that during this period gross trading profits of companies have risen by 38 per cent., gross ordinary dividends by 120 per cent., and income from rent by 117 per cent., and that while the retail price index has risen by 41 per cent. the purchasing value of the £ has fallen by 24 per cent., he will increase retirement pensions.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI gladly circulate below a table setting out the figures requested. On the last part of the Question I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Miss Vickers) on 12th February except to invite the hon. Member's attention to the striking demonstration which the table asked for by him gives both of the substantial increase made in retirement pensions since 1951 and of the admirable way in which that increase compares with the other figures selected by him for inclusion in the text of his Question:
Following is the table:
§ Mr. WoodI have nothing to add to the replies I and my hon. Friend gave the hon. Member on 3rd July and 13th November.