§ Mr. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the cost of indexing the basic state pension for single pensioners and married couples in line with the expected rate of inflation between 1984–85 and 1985–86, giving the gross and net full year costs.
§ Mr. WhitneyIf the basic retirement pension where to be increased by 4.75 per cent. in November 1985, in line with the general assumption in the Government's expenditure plans for 1985–86 to 1987–88 (Cmnd. 9428), the estimated gross cost would be £1,000 million higher in 1985–86 than in 1984–85. The corresponding estimated new cost would be £800 million.
§ Mr. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the costs of increasing the basic state pension by £5 per week for single pensioners and £8 per week for married couples in 1985–86, giving the gross and net full year costs.
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§ Mr. WhitneyThe estimated full year cost of increasing the basic retirement pension by £5 per week for single pensioners and £8 for couples in 1985–86 would be £2,200 million gross and £1,600 million net.