§ 69. Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, and to what extent, the increase of 10 per cent. in television rentals was taken into account in calculating the new rates of retirement pension and similar benefits.
§ Mr. OrmeIncreases in television rentals are reflected in the general index of retail prices and are thus among the items taken into account in calculating the November 1977 benefit rates. The Government's expectation is that these rates will be fully sufficient to compensate pensioners and other beneficiaries for price rises, as measured by the index, since November 1976.