§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the earnings allowed before reduction of benefit for those on (a) state pension and (b) supplementary benefit payable to the long-term unemployed; and if he will include figures for each year since 1970, in terms of 1983 prices.
§ Dr. BoysonThe following table shows the earnings limit for retirement pension and the earnings disregard for supplementary benefit current in 1970 and subsequently in those years when the levels were revised, together with the value of these in October 1983, rounded to the nearest 10p.
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Date of introduction Retirement Pension Earnings limit £ weekly Value in October 1983 terms £ weekly Retirement pension November 1969 7.50 36.70 September 1971 9.50 39.90 July 1974 13.00 40.40 April 1975 20.00 52.80 April 1976 35 00 77.70 November 1977 40.00 72.70 November 1978 45.00 75.70 November 1979 52.00 74.50 November 1982 57.00 59.60 November 1983 65.00 — Supplementary benefit November 1966 1.00 5.50 November 1975 2.00 4.70 November 1980 4.00 5.00