§ 49. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons over 80 years of age have taken advantage to date of the pension scheme introduced in July, 1970.
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§ Mr. DeanUp to and including 24th November, 1970, 113,000 pensions had been awarded under Section 1 of the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Act, 1970.
§ 55. Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what statistics he maintains regarding the value of occupational pensions and the response of occupational pension schemes to changes in the value of money.
§ Mr. DeanInformation is available from the periodic surveys of occupational pension schemes carried out by the Government Actuary.
§ 67. Mr. Gwynoro Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish the practice of an annual review of retirement pensions.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that since November, 1969 the single person's retirement pension has fallen in purchasing value by 6s. per week and the married couple by 9s. 8d. on official cost of living figures; and, as during this period the Government have increased the salaries of the higher paid civil servants by 43 per cent., whether, in his two-year review, he will increase retirement pensions by 43 per cent.
§ Mr. DeanI do not accept the basis of comparison, and in any case, the outcome of next year's review cannot be anticipated.