§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to improving the real value of pensions and other allowances available to retirement pensioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyWith the November 1984 uprating the value of the retirement pension has increased by 3.6 per cent, in real terms — representing £1.25 a week for a single person and £2.00 a week for a married couple— since the Government came to office in 1979. The pledge to protect pensions and linked long-term benefits against price rises has thus been more than met. We have made provision for uprating in November this year in line with price rises in the twelve months to May 1985.
§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compare the value of pensions and other allowances available to retirement pensioners with those which currently pertain in the other countries of the European Community.
§ Mr. WhitneyI refer my hon. Friend to section IV of the Department's publication, "Tables of Social Benefit Systems in the Member States of the European Communities, Portugal and Spain (position at 1 January 1984)", a copy of which is in the Library.