§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures setting out the 32W components of net weekly spending power in November 1985 and November 1986 for each of a single and married retirement pensioner, assuming (a) £15 a week rent and £7 rates and (b) £30 a week rent and £10 a week rates, and with the following amounts of income in addition to the state basic pension: £0, £5, £10, £15, £20, £30, £40, £50 and £100, respectively.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate what proportion of the beneficiaries of private sector occupational pension schemes who derive entitlement from members who have retired since 1974 have been accorded increments sufficient to compensate fully for rises in the retail price index since the date of award of benefit;
(2) what proportion of the beneficiaries of public sector occupational pension schemes who derive entitlement from members who have retired since 1974 have been accorded increments sufficient to compensate fully for rises in the retail price index since the date of award of benefit.
§ Mr. MajorInformation in the precise form requested is not available. The Govenment Actuary's 1983 survey of occupational pension schemes provides a summary of the most recent increases awarded to pensioners at the time of the survey. The following information is based on table 9.1 and paragraphs 9.5 and 9.7 of the Government Actuary's survey.
a. Private sector schemes Increase most recently granted Total (thousands) per cent, of total Nil, small, or irregular 440 21 2.5 per cent. 90 4 3 per cent. 320 15 4 per cent. 250 12 5 per cent. 550 26 6 per cent, or 7 per cent. 240 12 8 per cent, and over 170 8 In line with retail prices index 40 2 TOTALS 2,100 100 The mean inflation rate for the average period covered by increases granted in 1983 was 4.7 per cent.
b. Public sector schemes
Almost all pensions paid by public sector schemes are uprated in line with increases in the retail prices index, in accordance with the Pensions (Increase) Acts. Of those not governed by the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Acts, nearly all adopt a similar practice.