§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with the situation of the elderly in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CastleWe have made the improvement in the position of the elderly one of our main priorities. Besides the general improvement in health and social service provision we have increased pensions twice since coming into office last year. This means that between October 1973, when the previous Government last raised pensions, and April 1975, pensions rose by nearly 50 per cent. compared with a rise in prices of 33½ per cent. We have now laid an order before the House proposing a further increase in November. Between October 1973 and November pensions will have risen by about 70 per cent.