§ Mr. O'HaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the value of the basic state pension for(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples, for each year between November 1979 and April 2000; and what it would have been if it had been uprated in line with the higher in each year of average earnings or prices. [103956]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is in the table.
75W
£ per week Uprating date Single pensioner actual rates Single pensioner increased by higher of earnings or prices Pensioner couple actual rates Pensioner couple increased by higher of earnings or prices November 1979 23.30 23.30 37.30 37 30 November 1980 27.15 27.60 43.45 44 20 November 1981 29.60 30.90 47.35 49 50 November 1982 32.85 33.50 52.55 53.65 November 1983 34.05 36.40 54.50 58.30 November 1984 35.80 38.25 57.30 61.25 November 1985 38.30 41.60 61.30 66.60 July 1986 38.70 43.45 61.95 69.60 April 1987 39.50 45.90 63.25 73.50 April 1988 41.15 49.50 65.90 79 25 April 1989 43.60 53.85 69.80 86 20 April 1990 46.90 59.05 75.10 94 55 April 1991 52.00 65.50 83.25 104 85 April 1992 54.15 70.50 86.70 112 85 April 1993 56.10 73.90 89.80 118 30 April 1994 57.60 76.25 92.10 121 95 April 1995 58.85 78.85 94.10 126 10 April 1996 61.15 81.95 97.75 131 05 April 1997 62.45 85.40 99.80 136 55 April 1998 64.70 88.90 103.40 142 15 April 1999 66.75 93.25 106.70 149 10 April 2000 67.50 97.45 107.90 155 80 Notes:
1. The Retail Price Index (all items) has been used as published by the Office for National Statistics.
2. Average Earnings Index Whole Economy (Non Seasonally Adjusted) as published by the Office for National Statistics.
3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5p at each uprating.
4. From April 1994 the basic rate of retirement pension has been increased by 50p on a single person and 20p on a pensioner couple to reflect VAT on fuel.
5. The figures for November 1979 to November 1982 have been calculated using actual increases in Retail Prices Index rather than forecast increases.