§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money is currently spent in retirement pensions above the level which would be spent if 1979 values in real terms only were paid.
§ Dr. BoysonCurrent annual expenditure on retirement pensions is approximately £500 million greater than it would have been if the basic rates had been increased strictly in line with prices since November 1978. This figure does not take account of any resulting changes to expenditure on means tested benefits: the latter would be disproportionately costly to estimate.