HC Deb 26 February 1962 vol 654 cc100-2W
62. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state for each year from 1st January, 1953, the increase in the Cost-of-Living Index, the percentage increase in pensions under the Pensions Increases Acts in respect of Government servants, local government servants, teachers, and colonial servants, and the percentage increase under the Royal Warrant in respect of retired officers, widows and other ranks and retirement pensioners under the National Insurance Act.

Sir E. Boyle

As the reply contains a number of figures, I circulate the table below.

The pensions of members of the overseas services are not increasable under the Pensions (Increase) Acts but according

Percentage Increase of Pensions
Year Retail Prices (a) January figures) 1953 = 100 Civil Public Services Armed Forces National Insurance Retirement Pensions 1953=100
Pension on 1st January, 1953=100 Officers and men 1953=100 Widows 1953=100 Single Pensioners Married Couples
1953 … 100 100 100 100 100 100
1954 … 101.4 100 100 100 100 100
1955 … 105.6 100 100 100 100 100
1956 … 110.9 100 100 100 123.1(e) 120.4(e)
1957 … 115.8 Up to 108(b) 110(b)(d) 105(b) 123.1 120.4
1958 … 119.9 Up to 108 110(d) 105 153.8(f) 148.1(f)
1959 … 122.5 Up to 108 110(d) 105 153.8 148.1
1960 … 121.9 Up to 119(c) 123(c)(d) 115½(c) 153.8 148.1
1961 … 124.6 Up to 119 123(d) 115½ 153.8 148.1
1962 … 130.3 Up to 119 123(d) 115½ 176.9(g) 171.3(g)
GENERAL NOTE:
Increases under the Pensions (Increase) Acts and the corresponding Prerogative Instruments for H.M. Forces are dependent on the date of retirement and the size of the original pension. The table assumes a date of retirement of 31st December, 1952; larger increases would have been payable to those who retired earlier.
NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL POINTS:—
(a) Based on the Ministry of Labour Index of Retail Prices (the Interim Index of Retail Prices before 1956).
(b) From April, 1956.
(c) From August, 1959.
(d) Officers above the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and the equivalent received smaller increases.
(e) From April, 1955.
(f) From January, 1958.
(g) From April. 1961.

63. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much per cent. the cost of living has increased since 1938; and by how much has the retired pay of officers in each rank increased.

Sir E. Boyle

As measured by the Cost-of-Living Index, the Interim Index of Retail Prices and the Index of Retail Prices, the cost of living since 1938 has risen by 134 per cent. The percentage increase in the retired pay of officers retiring in 1938 have been as follows (assuming that they have been eligible for the benefits of all Pensions Increase measures):

ing to the differing rules of the individual Governments who pay those pensions. Owing to the large number of figures involved I am asking my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Technical Co-operation to send details to the hon. Member.

per cent.
General … … … 34
Lieut.-General … … … 36
Major-General … … … 37
Brigadier … … … 38
Colonel … … … 38
Lieut.-Colonel … … … 41
Major … … … 46
Captain … … … 58