§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services for each of the upratings proposed for July 1986 and April 1987, which month's retail price index will be used to determine the uprating and when each uprating will be announced; and if he will estimate the extra cost of the upratings compared with an uprating in November 1986 and 1987 assuming that inflation is a constant 5 per cent. throughout the relevant period, in each of the financial years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kempton, on 25 June at column381. The uprating would be announced, as at present, shortly after the publication of the retail prices index for the relevant month. Expenditure in 1985–86 is not affected. On the assumption given, there would be an additional cost in 1986–87 of about £150 million. In 1987–88 the effect would be broadly neutral.