§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the percentage increase in retirement pensions since May 1979 compared with the percentage increase in average earnings.
§ Mr. RossiThe present Government have increased the standard rates of the basic retirement pension by 68.5 per cent. since coming into office up to the date of the last uprating in November 1982. Over the same period of time earnings rose by 59.4 per cent.