§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the weekly old-age pension for a single and married couple for each of the years from October, 1951; the dates on which alterations took place; and, taking £1 in October, 1951, as having a purchase value of 20s., what the relative purchasing power of an old-age pension was for each of the months from October, 1951, to the latest convenient stated date.
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* WEEKLY RATES OF RETIREMENT PENSION IN TERMS OF OCTOBER, 1951 PRICES Month 1951–1952 1952–1953 1953–1954 1954–1955 single person married couple single person married couple single person married couple single person married couple single person married couple s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. October … 26 0 42 0 30 0 50 0 30 5 50 6 29 11 49 8 29 1 48 4 November … 25 11 41 10 29 11 49 10 30 5 50 7 29 10 49 6 28 11 48 1 December … 25 9 41 7 29 8 49 6 30 3 50 3 29 11 49 9 28 9 47 10 January … 25 3 40 10 29 2 48 7 30 3 50 3 29 10 49 7 — — February … 25 3 40 10 29 2 48 7 30 2 50 2 29 11 49 9 — — March … 25 1 40 7 29 0 48 4 30 0 49 9 29 8 49 3 — — April … 24 9 39 11 28 6 47 7 29 8 49 4 29 6 49 1 — — May … 24 9 39 11 28 6 47 7 29 10 49 6 29 7 49 2 — — June … 24 4 39 3 28 1 46 9 29 8 49 3 29 5 48 11 — — July … 24 4 39 4 28 1 46 10 29 8 49 3 28 11 48 1 — — August … 24 6 39 7 28 3 47 1 29 10 49 7 29 2 48 5 — — September … 24 6 39 8 28 4 47 2 29 11 49 8 29 2 48 6 — — *Based on the Interim Index of Retail Prices.
§ Mr. MarplesThe following tables give the information required.
STANDARD RATES OF RETIREMENT PENSIONS Single Married s. d. s. d. From October, 1951 to October, 1952— (a) pensioners who on 1st October, 1951 had attained age 65 men, 60 women 30 0 50 0 (b) others 26 0 42 0 From October, 1952 to April, 1955— all pensioners 32 6 54 0 From April, 1955— all pensioners 40 0 65 0