§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Social Security what has been the percentage rise in the retail price index since the basic National Insurance retirement pension was last increased; and what she estimates to be the respective annual cost of universally increasing the basic pension or of increasing benefits paid by the Supplementary Benefits Commission to cover this rise.
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§ Mr. Pentland8.7 per cent. up to April, 1967, which is the latest month for which figures are available. The cost of increasing retirement pensions to cover this rise would be £108 million in a full year. Supplementary benefits were introduced in November, 1966; the cost of increasing them to cover the subsequent part of the rise would be £14 million in a full year.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Social Security what has been the percentage rise in the average level of industrial weekly earnings since the basic National Insurance retirement pension was last increased; and what she estimates to be the respective annual cost of universally increasing the pension or of increasing benefits paid by the Supplementary Commission to cover this rise.
§ Mr. Pentland7.4 per cent. up to October, 1966, which is the latest date to which figures are available. The cost of increasing retirement pensions to cover this rise would be £92 million in a full year. Supplementary benefits were not introduced until November, 1966.