§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that official figures have recently been published showing that food prices have risen by over one-third since June 1970; and, in view of this and the fact that the retirement age pensioner spends the largest percentage of his pension on food, if he will now immediately increase all retirement pensions by £2 per week.
§ Mr. DeanNo. The substantial increase in retirement pensions proposed for the beginning of October in the legislation which is now before Parliament will raise them to a level 55 per cent. higher than that of June 1970, whereas the cost of living, of which food prices form only part, up to May 1973 had risen at less than half that rate.