§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the number of percentage increases in retirement benefits, sickness benefits and war disablement benefits, compared with those granted to Her Majesty's judges and those mentioned arid detailed in the Boyle Committee on Top Salaries.
§ Mr. OrmeSince October 1973, when the previous administration last increased428W social security benefits, retirement pensions, sickness benefit and war disablement pensions have been increased five times, the last increase being in November 1977. Since October 1973, the salaries of the four categories covered by thse standing reference of the Review Body on Top Salaries have also been increased on five occasions, the last increase taking effect from 1st January 1978. The resultant percentage increases since October 1973 were as follows:
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS Percentage increase to November 1977 Standard rate of Category A retirement pension 125.8 Standard rate of sickness benefit 100 Standard rates of 100 per cent. war disablement pension: 1. Highest rate (Major-General or equivalent) 84.8 2. Lowest rate (Private or equivalent) 123.4
SALARIES Percentage increase to January 1978 Upper Level Head of the Home Civil Service 24.2 Field Marshal 26.8 Lord Chief Justice 26.7 Chairman; British Steel Corporation 11.6 Lower Level Under-Secretary, Civil Service 36.7 Major General 33.0 Metropolitan Magistrate 34.6 Deputy Chairmen, Area Electricity Boards 16.2