§ Mr. Penhaligonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value of a State retirement pension for January 1975 and for January 1979, respectively, the percentage change in this period, and the percentage change in the cost of living and food index over the same period.
§ Mr. OrmeThe single person's retirement pension was £10 in January 1975 and £19.50 in January 1979. The married couple's pension was £16 and £31.20 respectively. These represented increases of 95 per cent. Over the same period the general index of retail prices—all items—rose by 72.8 per cent. The increase in that index for food only was 83.9 per cent.