§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value in real terms of the basic602W retirement pension with effect from 11 April, taking November 1978 as the base and calculated according to the rise in average earnings between then and the latest month for which information is available.
§ Mr. ScottIf the basic retirement pension had been increased in line with the overall increase in earnings between November 1978 and September 1987, the end of the period measured for the April 1988 uprating, the level of pension in April 1988 would be £47.10.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the additional cost of abolishing the contribution conditions for the basic retirement pension for those aged 65 years or over.
§ Mr. ScottThe gross additional cost of abolishing the contribution conditions for basic retirement pension for those over state pension age would be about £2,500 million in 1988–89. Figures for those aged 65 or over are not available.