§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the basic retirement pension will be as a percentage of male earnings from 1 December 1983; how this compares with each of the last six years; and what are the comparable figures for other European Community countries.
§ Dr. BoysonNo figures are available as to the level of male earnings at 1 December 1983. For earlier years figures showing the basic pension as a percentage of adult male earnings are set out in table 5.1 of "Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions June 1983" a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. Comparable figures for other EC countries are not readily available because of differences in the definition of earnings, in the categories of workers covered and in the scope of state and occupational provision in the various countries concerned.