§ 22. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the fact that the cost of living has gone up by nearly 10 per cent. since October 1964, and that 8s. of the 12s. 6d. increase then provided for the retirement pensioners has been lost, whether she will introduce legislation tying pensions to the cost-of-living index; and if she will make a statement.
§ Miss HerbisonNo. Pension rates are about 18 per cent. higher than in October 1964, against a rise in the Retail Prices Index of just over 8 per cent. Pensioners would be worse off if their pensions had been tied to the cost of living.