§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners would be lifted off supplementary benefit if the retirement pension were increased by £3.35 for a couple £3.40 for a single person over and above the increase in April, and the full rate of pension were paid to those who do not satisfy the contribution condition.
§ Mr. Alec Jones:As I told the hon. Member in my reply to her on 20th December last a total of about 1,200,000 retirement pensioners would cease to be dependent on supplementary benefit if the retirement pension were increased by £3.35 for a couple and £3.40 for a single person over the above the increases due next month. It is not possible without disproportionate cost, to provide the information requested in the second part of the Question.—[Vol. 883, c.729.]