§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the costs of increasing the basic state pension by £1 per week for single pensioners and married couples in 1985–86, giving the gross and net full year costs.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe full-year cost of raising the basic retirement pension by £1 per week for each person receiving a pension on his or her own insurance—that is with no increase for adult dependants or married women receiving pensions on their husband's insurance—would be £380 million gross, or £280 million net of savings on supplementary benefit and housing benefit.