§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each year since 1978, the percentage increase in the retirement pension, the retail price index increase and the increase in national average earnings; and by how much the pension, prices and average earnings have increased between May 1979 and October 1986.
§ Mr. MajorThe percentage increases applying in the uprating month in each year since 1978 are given in the following table.
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Percentage increase since previous uprating November Retirement pension-single pension Retail price index National average earnings 1978 11.4 8.1 13.3 1979 19.5 17.4 19.1 1980 16.5 15.3 17.9 1981 9.0 12.0 11.5 1982 11.0 6.3 8.3 1983 3.7 4.8 7.3 1984 5.1 4.9 6.5 1985 7.0 5.5 8.6 1986 (July) 1.0 1.7 5.9 Meaningful comparisons over a period of time can only be made between uprating dates. The percentage increases applying between November 1978 and July 1986 are:
Percentage increases Retirement pension 98.5 Retail price index 90.0 National average earnings 123.0