Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the rates of retirement pensions as a percentage of the average wage in manufacturing industry for each quarterly period since 1970.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe information is as follows:
RETIREMENT PENSION IN RESPECT OF A SINGLE PERSON AND A MARRIED COUPLE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS AVERAGE EARNINGS* Pension as a percentage of earnings Date Single Person Percentage Married Couple Percentage 1970— February 18.9 30.6 May 18.3 29.6 August 17.6 28.4 November 17.1 27.7 1971— February 16.8 27.2 May 16.4 26.6 August 16.1 26.1 November 19.1 30.8 1972— February† — — May 17.7 28.7 August 17.2 27.9 November 18.4 29.7 1973— February 18.1 29.3 May 17.4 28.1 August 16.8 27.1 November 18.4 29.7 1974— February‡ 19.0 30.6 May 17.7 28.6 August 21.1 33.7 November 19.5 31.1 1975— February 18.8 30.0 May 21.1 33.7 August 19.6 31.2 November§ 21.4 34.2 * Estimated average earnings of full-time male manual workers in the manufacturing industries based on the Department of Employment's regular October inquiry. † As industrial activity was severely disrupted by restricted electricity supplies, the monthly survey was not carried out in February and so no figures are available for this month. ‡ These figures reflect temporary reductions in earnings while three-day working and other restrictions were in operation. § Provisional.