§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 17 November, Official Report, c. 580, if he will give the percentage increase in real terms for the disability benefits listed; and what is the price index he is using for this purpose.
§ Mr. NewtonThe percentage increase in the real value of the various benefits between November 1970 and November 1983 as measured by the general retail prices index, and assuming an increase of 5 per cent. in the RPI between November 1982 and November 1983, is as follows:
per cent. Attendance allowance higher rate 3.1 lower rate 3.2 Invalid care allowance 3.4 Mobility allowance *10.0 Non-contributory invalidity pension 3.4 Invalidity pension -1.1 Supplementary benefit ordinary rate (single householder) 1.9 long-term rate (single householder) 1.4 Heating addition (lower rate) 42.6 100 per cent. industrial disablement benefit 3.1 100 per cent. war disablement pension 3.1 Note:
* The figure for mobility allowance is based on the movement of the RPI between July 1978 — which was the date the allowance was increased to the level it held in November 1978—and November 1983.