§ 37. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the retirement pension would be for a single person and a married couple if it had been increased in line with earnings and prices, whichever increased the most in November 1979 and 1980 respectively.
§ Mr. RossiIf, at the upratings in November 1979 and November 1980, legislation had required retirement pensions to be increased in line with the movements of prices or average earnings since the previous up-rating 87W whichever was the greater, the appropriate factor would have been the movement in earnings since they increased by more than prices over the relevant periods.
On this basis, the rates of retirement pension introduced in November 1979 would have been £23.65 for a single person and £37.80 for a married couple. These rates include amounts to make good the shortfall in relation to earnings at the time of the previous administration's up-rating in November 1978. The rates introduced in November 1980 would have been £28.05 and £44.85 respectively.
Note
The calculations are based on movements in the Department of Employment's index of average earnings, whole economy (new series), not seasonally adjusted. The November 1980 rates are based on the latest figure available—the provisional index for that month.