§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage increase in retirement pensions between October 1973 and November 1978; and how this compares with the percentage increase in prices and earnings over the same period.
§ Mr. DeakinsRetirement pensions will have increased by 152 per cent. between October 1973 and November 1978. Over the same period the increase in prices, based on the movement of the general index of retail prices, is expected to be 107 per cent. The increase in earnings, based on the increase in the average gross weekly earnings of male manual workers, was 81 per cent. between October 1973 and November 1977, when pensions were last uprated. It is not the practice of the Government to publish forecasts of earnings.