§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when state benefits and pensions will be increased to take account of inflation; and what level of increase may be expected.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in his statement to the House on 24 October, social security benefits will be uprated from 8 April 1991. Retirement pensions and other long-term 107W benefits will be increased by 10.9 per cent., in line with the retail prices index, and income-related benefits by 8.1 per cent., reflecting the increase in the RPI excluding housing costs. Housing benefit and income support provide separately for these costs.