HC Deb 10 February 1955 vol 536 cc254-6W
Mr. Lewis

asked 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.

* 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. Marples

The 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