§ Mr. Danceasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the true increase in the purchasing power of the retirement pension brought in by the present Government, in view of the fact that the value of the £ sterling has fallen by 1s. 1d.
§ Miss HerbisonThe retirement pensions of 80s. for a single person and 130s. for a couple are, at current prices, worth, respectively, 3s. 1d. and 5s. less than when they were introduced in March, 1965. The increases of 12s. 6d. for a single person and 21s. for a married couple then made are now worth 12s. and 20s. 2d. respectively.