HC Deb 22 November 1977 vol 939 cc673-4W
75. Mr. Bidwell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the rates of national insurance pensions.

Mr. Orme

My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations for an increase in pension rates from pensioners organisations and others and have met deputations, including one, last week, from the British Pensioners and Trade Union Action Committee, led by my hon. Friend. We have pointed out that, as a result of the improvements

Single Person Married Couple
Actual Rate Value at Constant October 1970 Prices Value at Constant October 1977 Prices Actual Rate Value at Constant October 1970 Prices Value at Constant October 1977 Prices
Date (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
£ £ £ £ £ £
October 1948 … 1.30 3.09 7.73 2.10 4.99 12.49
October 1949 … 1.30 2.98 7.46 2.10 4.82 12.06
October 1950 … 1.30 2.91 7.28 2.10 4.70 11.76
October 1951 … 1.50 3.00 7.51 2.50 5.00 12.51
October 1952 … 1.625 3.04 7.61 2.70 5.05 12.64
October 1953 … 1.625 2.99 7.48 2.70 4.97 12.43
October 1954 … 1.625 2.91 7.28 2.70 4.83 12.09
October 1955 … 2.00 3.40 8.51 3.25 5.53 13.82
October 1956 … 2.00 3.27 8.19 3.25 5.32 13.30
October 1957 … 2.00 3.14 7.85 3.25 5.10 12.75
October 1958 … 2.50 3.84 9.60 4.00 6.14 15.37
October 1959 … 2.50 3.85 9.62 4.00 6.15 15.40
October 1960 … 2.50 3.77 9.43 4.00 6.03 15.09
October 1961 … 2.875 4.18 10.44 4.625 6.72 16.80
October 1962 … 2.875 4.05 10.14 4.625 6.52 16.32
October 1963 … 3.375 4.65 11.64 5.45 7.52 18.80
October 1964 … 3.375 4.47 11.19 5.45 7.22 18.07
October 1965 … 4.00 5.06 12.65 6.50 8.22 20.56
October 1966 … 4.00 4.87 12.19 6.50 7.92 19.80
October 1967 … 4.50 5.38 13.45 7.30 8.72 21.82
October 1968 … 4.50 5.09 12.73 7.30 8.26 20.66
October 1969 … 4.50 4.83 12.08 7.30 7.84 19.60
November 1969 … 5.00 5.36 13.40 8.10 8.68 21.70
October 1970 … 5.00 5.00 12.51 8.10 8.10 20.26
October 1971 … 6.00 5.49 13.72 9.70 8.87 22.19
October 1972 … 6.75 5.72 14.31 10.90 9.24 23.11
October 1973 … 7.75 5.98 14.95 12.50 9.64 24.12
October 1974 … 10.00 6.59 16.48 16.00 10.54 26.36
October 1975 … 11.60 6.07 15.18 18.50 9.58 24.21
November 1975 … 13.30 6.88 17.20 21.20 10.96 27.42
October 1976 … 13.30 6.06 15.17 21.20 9.67 24.18
November 1976 … 15.30 6.88 17.21 24.50 11.02 27.56
October 1977 … 15.30 6.12 15.30 24.50 9.79 24.50
November 1977(2) … 17.50 7.00 — 28.00 11.19 —
(1) Retirement pension was introduced on 5th July 1948.
(2) October 1977 retail price index figure (latest available) used to calculate value at constant October 1970 prices.

introduced by this Government, pension rates have increased significantly more than prices and the real value of the pension has increased by 15 per cent, since we took office.

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing both in current and 1970 prices for each year since 1945 the pension paid to a single person and to a married couple, respectively.

Mr. Orme

On the basis of the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices, all items, the value of the retirement pension for a single person and for a married couple for each year since it was introduced (1) at constant October 1970 and October 1977 prices is given in the table below: