§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a list of all categories of people whose retirement pensions are index-linked; and if he will state whether those people who voluntarily defer receipt of retirement pension will be entitled to an index-linked pension.
§ Mr. OrmeAll State retirement pensions, including supplementary pensions, are index-linked; and, under the Pensions Increase Act 1971, so are public service pensions. Public sector schemes in general have similar provisions. No 717W details are available of arrangements in private sector schemes, but it is known that a number of such schemes provide post award increases in pensions. Deferment of retirement does not affect the index-linking of the pension when it is awarded.