§ 20. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, now that the Government have decided to give a second increase in 12 months to top paid State servants in receipt of incomes up to £27,500 per annum, of £250 per annum, retrospective to April last, he will reconsider his decision not to increase pensions above those announced for next October and give a further increase of £5 per week retrospective to April 1973.
§ Mr. AlisonNo. The increase in pensions from the beginning of this month represented an improvement of almost 15 per cent. over the rates introduced in October 1972 which more than covered the rise in prices.