HC Deb 16 March 1971 vol 813 cc261-2W
18. Mr. Parkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to introduce a higher rate of pension under the National Insurance scheme for men of 75 and over.

Mr. Dean

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. Gorst) on 2nd February.—[Vol. 810, c.302–3.]

33. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value in real terms of the retirement pension at the present time compared with the time of the last increase in 1969.

Mr. Dean

On the basis of January's prices the £5.00 pension—first introduced in November, 1969—is now worth about £4.54 compared with its value then.

43. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the increase in the cost of living since the last increase was made in the State retirement pension.

Mr. Dean

10.1 per cent., on the basis of the general index of retail prices for January, 1971.

84. Mr. Kelley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to restore the deficiency in certain pension payments as a result of the postal authorities rounding-down the odd sixpence in the retirement pension to two new pence.

Mr. Dean

If an order expressed in £ s. d. is presented for payment after D-day the Post Office convert the amount using the Whole New Penny conversion table, in accordance with their instructions, and this will result in some payments being rounded down. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind where a sixpence has been rounded down in other circumstances, I would be pleased to look into it.

Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present value in real terms of retirement pensions compared with the value at the time of the last increase in pensions.

Mr. Dean

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

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