§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the rise in the pensioners' price index (less housing) and the rise in the retail price index (less housing) for the years between 1979 and the latest available date.
§ Mr. MajorThe information requested is shown in the table. The pensioner price indices are published quarterly, and for comparison purposes quarterly figures for the retail prices index minus housing have also been used. The figures show annual percentage increases at the fourth quarter of each year except 1986, where the latest available second quarter figures have been used.
Percentage increase since previous year (Fourth quarter) Year One-person Pensioners prices index minus housing Two-person Pensioner prices index minus housing Retail index minus housing 1979 15.8 15.8 16.8 1980 14.7 14.0 13.3 1981 10.7 11.5 10.6 1982 7.5 7.0 6.6 1983 4.6 4.8 4.7 1984 4.4 4.5 3.9 1985 4.8 4.7 4.8 19861 2.2 2.1 1.6 1Second quarter figures.