HC Deb 21 December 1971 vol 828 cc278-9W
53. Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services taking the value of the retirement pension for single and married persons respectively at 100 in November, 1969, what is its value now.

Mr. Dean

101.8 and 101.6, respectively, based on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices from November, 1969, to November, 1971. For pensioners over age 80 the figures are 106.1 and 106.9, respectively.

Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much, at current prices, the purchasing value of the retirement pension for a married couple fell below the latest current figure for each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Dean

As measured by the General Index of Retail Prices the amounts by which the purchasing value in November of each year was below the value at November, 1971, were as follows:

£
1970 0.85
1969 0.16
1968 0.64
1967 0.16
1966 1.04
1965 0.70
1964 1.82
1963 1.46
1962 2.55
1961 2.39
Where the married couple are both over 80, 50p should be added to each of the figures.