HC Deb 29 June 1964 vol 697 cc138-9W
19. Mr. Curran

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give details about the changes made since 1951 in the earnings-rule limits for retirement pensions, widows' pensions and widowed mothers' allowances; what

(1) CHANGES IN CASH AND PURCHASING POWER
Retirement and widow's pension Widowed mother's allowance
Date; introduced Earnings rule limit Equivalent value at March, 1964 prices* Earnings rule limit Equivalent value at March, 1964 prices*
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
September, 1951 … … 40 0 59 4 60 0 88 11
July, 1956 … … 50 0 60 7 60 0 72 8
April 1950 … … 60 0 67 9 80 0 90 4
May, 1960 … … 70 0 78 5 100 0 112 1
May, 1963 … … 85 0 86 1 120 0 121 6
March, 1964 … … 100 0 100 0 140 0 140 0
* On the basis of the Retail Prices Index.

(2) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARNINGS RULE LIMITS AND AVERAGE EARNNGS
Retirement pension Widow's pension Widowed mother's allowance
Earnings rule limit Earnings rule limit Earnings rule limit
Date introduced Amount As percentage of men's average earnings* Amount As percentage of women's average earnings* Amount As percentage of women's average earnings*
s. d s. d. s. d.
September, 1951 … 40 0 24 40 0 44 60 0 67
July, 1956 … 50 0 21 50 0 41 60 0 49
April, 1959 … 60 0 23 60 0 44 80 0 58
May, 1960 … 70 0 25 70 0 48 100 0 69
May, 1963 … 85 0 26 85 0 52 120 0 73
March, 1964 … 100 0 30 100 0 59 140 0 83
* Based on Ministry of Labour's enquiries in April and October into the average earnings of manual workers in manufacturing and some of the principal non-manufacturing industries (gross earnings at the nearest date).