§ Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Minister for the Civil Service what the total cost of Civil Service pensions is estimated to be in the current financial year, allowing for increases in the Retail Price Index at (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 15 per cent., (d) 20 per cent. and (e) nil per cent.; and what was the total cost last year.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisExpenditure on Civil Service pensions is met from the Vote for Civil Superannuation etc. (Class XIV, Vote 6). The net Estimate for this Vote in 1976–77 is £276.16 million and the outturn for 1975–76 is estimated to be about £256 million. If increases in the Retail Price Index between July 1975 and June 1976 of (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 15 per cent., (d) 20 per cent. and (e) nil per cent. resulted in the payment of increased pensions from 1st December 1976 under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, it is estimated that the Vote for 1976–77 would need to be increased by approximately (a) £3½ million, (b) £7 million, (c) £10½ million, (d) £14 million, (e) nil.