§ 45. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the real value of the basic retirement pension for a married couple, taking the figure for June 1970 as 100.
§ Mr. OrmeOn the basis of the movement in the general index of retail prices 693W between June 1970 and November 1977, the latest date for which a figure is available, the present equivalent of the married couple's standard pension rate is £8.10, payable in June 1970, is £2081. The current rate is £28, which represents an increase in real value of 34.5 per cent., over that payable in June 1970.