§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will base the calculation of the state retirement pension and public service pension on the formula of the higher of average(a) earnings or (b) prices; and if he will make a statement; [9106]
(2) to what extent the use of the data derived from the September retail prices index are now estimated by his Department to be pertinent in respect of the uprating of (a) state and (b) public service pensions following the Budget statement; what alternative arrangements he is considering; and if he will make a statement; [9109]
(3) if he will base the calculation of pension increases on the average earnings index; and if he will make a statement. [9105]
§ Mr. HealdWe have no plans to change the existing arrangements for the uprating of either state retirement pension or public service pensions.