§ Sir F. Bennettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the purchasing power of the current rates of retirement pensions for married couples and individuals in May 1966, on the basis of a monthly increase in the Cost of Living Index of 2 per cent., taking 15th October as the starting point.
§ Mr. MacDermotI am not prepared to answer a hypothetical question based on a wholly unrealistic assumption.
§ Sir F. Bennettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, in terms of real 138W purchasing power, according to the Cost of Living Index, is the value of the present retirement pension for individuals and married couples, compared with when the new rates were first announced.
§ Mr. MacDermotAbout £3 17s. 9d. for single persons and £6 6s. 3d. for married couples in April 1965, the latest date available, compared with £4 and £6 10s. Od., respectively, when the rates were announced in November 1964.