§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates of implementation of Service pension increases during the present financial year and the previous four financial years, quoting the increases in the cost of living as well for each of these financial years and the statistics for the financial year to date.
§ Mr. DuffyThe information is given in the following table:
Dates of Implementation Cost of living increase† percentage 1972–73 … … 1st December* 9.9 1973–74 … … 1st December* 9.3 1974–75 … … 1st December* 16.5 1975–76 … … 1st December* 26.1 1976–77 … … 1st December 13.8 * Those who retired after 1st April received their first pensions increase, if otherwise eligible, from 1st April in the following year. In certain years senior officers, because their pension codes were operative from 1st January, received their first pensions increase on 1st January following. † These figures represent the percentage rise in the retail price index over the 12 months ending in the previous June. In accordance with the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, the basic (1st December) increases applied to all public service pensions are at these rates. Modified rates applied to first increases at different dates. The percentage rise in the retail price index over 12 months to the latest available figure, January 1977, is 16.6.