§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the value in real terms of the Christmas bonus paid to pensioners at each Christmas since the scheme was first introduced, expressed in the prices ruling at that date.
§ Mr. Orme:Compared with the first bonus of £10 paid in December 1972, the real values of the £10 bonuses paid in 1973, 1974 and 1977 are set out below. These amounts are based on the movements of the General Index of Retail Prices between December 1972 and the dates shown.
November 1973 … … £9 .11 November 1974 … … £7 .70 December 1977 … … £4 .71 The value of the £10 bonus paid in December 1978 cannot be given on this basis as the General Index of Retail Prices for that month is not yet available.