HC Deb 16 December 1991 vol 201 c86W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state for each year since 1979 the value of widow's pension for a widow aged 50 when her husband died, as a percentage of the index of average earnings.

Miss Widdecombe

The information requested is given in the table.

Table
A B C D
Date Average Weekly Earnings Standard Rate of Basic Widows Pension Percentage C to B
November 1979 114.10 23.30 20.4
November 1980 135.10 27.15 20.1
November 1981 149.50 29.60 19.8
November 1982 160.60 32.85 20.5
November 1983 175.30 34.05 19.4
November 1984 187.40 35.80 19.1
November 1985 199.50 38.30 19.2
July 1986 210.90 38.70 18.3
April 1987 224.00 39.50 17.6
April 1988 245.80 41.15 (26.75) 16.7(10.9)
April 1989 269.50 43.60 (28.34) 16.2 (10.5)
April 1990 295.60 46.90 (30.49) 15.9(10.3)
April 1991 320.60 52.00 (33.80) 16.2(10.5)

Note:

Column A—Uprating Date.

Column B—Average weekly earnings are taken from the New Earnings Survey and are for full-time adult males in April of each year.

Column C—Standard rate of Widows Pension—age 50 (age 55 after April 1988) at husband's death. The figures in brackets show the rate paid to a widow age 50 at the time of her husband's death (after April 1988).