§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what average increase in dispensing doctors
Financial year Uprating date Actual rate Rate if linked to RP1 Actual cost Cost if linked toRPI Single Married Single Married November £ £ £ £ £ million £ million 1979–80 1979 23.30 37.30 22.90 36.65 8,816 8,749 1980–81 1980 27.15 43.45 26.45 42.35 10,526 10,325 1981–82 1981 29.60 47.35 29.60 47.40 12,126 11,932 1982–83 1982 32.85 52.55 31.45 50.35 13,549 13,333 1983–84* 1983 34.05 54.50 32.95 52.75 14,688 14,122 * Estimated.
§ Mr. Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number of retirement pensioners in absolute and proportionate numbers had opted to receive their pension in four weekly or quarterly payments in arrears with payments made direct to a bank or building society at the latest available date.
§ Dr. BoysonAt 10 April 1984, 663,077 retirement and widow pensioners were being paid at either four-weekly or quarterly intervals by credit transfer to their bank or building society account. This number represents 8 per cent. of the 8.2 million pensioners whose payments are issued by computer from the department's central office at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Another 1.4 million pensioners who also receive supplementary benefit have the payments combined and paid from the Department's local offices. These payments cannot be made by computer and it is not possible to offer payment to these pensioners by credit transfer.