§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figure at which the retirement pension would now be if it took account of (a) the full increase in the retail price index between November 1978 and January 1982 and (b) the full increase in the average wage between November 1978 and January 1982.
§ Mr. RossiThe latest available average earnings figure is the provisional new series index figure for November 1981, and the latest retail price index figure is for December 1981. Using those figures the November 1978 rate of retirement pension at the standard basic rate for a single person would at December 1981 price levels be worth £29.74. If the pension rate had risen in line with average earnings to November 1981 the equivalent current worth would be £30.73.