HC Deb 17 November 1982 vol 32 cc162-3W
Sir Brandon Rhys Williams

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the percentage increase over the previous year in each year since 1965 of the gross national product, the retail price index and the amount of the uprating of public service pensions; and, in each, what were the reasons stated for the uprating.

Mr. Brittan

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1982; c. 298]: The percentage increases in gross national product and retail prices, and the annual percentage uprating in public service pensions for each year since 1965 are as follows:

Annual Percentage Increases in GNP, RPI and the Public Service Pensions Uprating
Seasonally Adjusted Money GNP (at market prices) All Items RPI Public Service Pensions Uprating
1965 6.4 4.9 —*
1966 7.6 3.9 —*
1967 5.7 2.4 —*
1968 6.2 4.6 —*
1969 8.3 5.3 —*
1970 9.4 5.9 —*
1971 11.5 10.3 —*
1972 11.5 6.1 9.9†
1973 15.0 9.3 9.3
1974 13.1 16.5 16.5
1975 26.1 26.1 26.1
1976 17.8 13.8 13.8
1977 15.6 17.7 17.7
1978 16.4 7.4 7.4
1979 15.5 11.4 16.0
1980 17.0 21.0 16.5
1981 11.1 11.3 9.06
1982 9.3 9.2 11.0

* From 1965 to 1971 inclusive there was not an annual uprating—there were pension (increase) Acts in 1965, 1969 and 1971—nor were all pensions uprated by the same percentage. In 1965 and 1969 legislation provided for different upratings depending on the beginning date of the pension. The 1971 legislation provided for transitional arrangements as well as for future regular upratings.

† In 1972 the superannuation Act provided for an increase covering 15 months from 1 September 1971 to 1 December 1972.

Note: RPI figures relate to percentage increases in the year to June while those for GNP relate to second quarter increases. Public service pensions upratings over the period 1973–1978 were retrospectively based on the 12 monthly increase in the RPI to June of that year.

Reasons for increases

The upratings were as provided for in current legislation: the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, the Pensions (Increase) Act 1974 and the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.