§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) by how much pensions and other benefits need to be raised in November so as (a) to fulfil the Government's duty to increase benefits in line with earnings or prices or long-term national insurance benefits in line with prices or other benefits and (b) to make up the 1977–78 shortfall in the uprating of long-term benefits; and if he will detail the amounts separately;
(2) if he will state the size in (a) money terms and (b) percentage terms of the 116W shortfall in the uprating of pensions and other benefits between 1977 and 1978.
§ Mr. PrenticeIf the actual movements of prices and earnings between November 1977 and November 1978 had been used to determine the uprating of benefits in November 1978, the following rates of benefit would have been paid:
Standard rates for a single person £ Retirement pension and other longterm national insurance benefits 19.85 Sickness and unemployment benefit 15.90 On this basis the single person's rates would have been 35p—or 1.9 per cent.—higher for long-term benefits and 15p—or 1 per cent.—higher for sickness and unemployment benefit.
As to the hon. Member's question regarding the uprating due in November, I ask him to await the announcement of our proposals, which my right hon. Friend will be making shortly.