§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the next review of retirement pensions will take place, after November 1975.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will now announce when the next up-rating of pensions and benefits will take place after the one which is to come into effect in November 1975.
§ Mr. O'MalleySince we have not yet even reached the operative date of this year's uprating, I would ask the hon. Members to wait on events.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes have been made in the figures for the amount of retirement pension payable to a single person in hospital for more than a year during the last five years; on what dates the changes were made; and what increase in the current figure would be required to make it equal in real terms to the figure when last increased.
§ Mr. MeacherThe amount of the adjustments made to national insurance and industrial injuries benefits where the beneficiary is in hospital changes every time benefits are uprated. The following is the information requested:
On the basis of price movements up to September, the latest month for which 359W figures are available, it is estimated that an increase of about 20p would be needed to restore the purchasing power of the current amount of £2.30 to April 1975 levels. From 17th November 1975, when benefits will again be increased, the amount of retirement pension payable to a single person in hospital for more than a year will be £2.65.
Amount of retirement pension payable to a single person in hospital after one year* Date from which amount payable £ 1.00 3rd November 1969 1.20 20th September 1971 1.35 2nd October 1972 1.55 1st October 1973 2.00 22nd July 1974 2.30 7th April 1975 * In addition a resettlement sum accumulates for 52 weeks.