§ Dr. Gilbertasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners received a full £1 a week rise, without any offsetting increase in income tax liability or reduction in supplementary benefit entitlement at the time of the last general increase in pensions; and what proportion that figure was of the total number of persons in receipt of retirement pensions at that time.
§ Mr. DeanIt is not possible to give exact figures, but it is estimated that about one-third of retirement pensioners—around 2½ million—may be in this category.