§ Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the reference months chosen for the calculation of the movement of average national earnings and prices for the purpose of the upratings of pensions and benefits in 1975 and 1976 in fulfilment of the provisions of Section 4 of the Social Security Benefits Act 1975; and what basis he in-tends to take in the current year for the same purposes.
§ 1976 Mr. EnnalsThe following is the information:
Date of uprating
Reference period for earnings and price movements, used for the purpose of uprating of benefits in pursuance of Section 4(3) of the Social Security Benefits Act 1975 (subsequently consolidated into Section 125(3) of the Social Security Act 1975):
April
November 1973–August 1974.
November
August 1974–March 1975.
November
November 1975–November 1976.
November 1977 (proposed)
November 1976–November 1977.
My right hon. Friend will be aware that the single pension rate introduced last November represented an increase of 31.9 per cent. over that of April 1975, compared with an increase in average earnings over the same period of 26.4 per cent. and in prices of 28.4 per cent.