Pensioners (Cost of Living)

HC Deb 18 February 1986 vol 92 cc119-20W

Mr. Christopher Hawkins

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much the separate retail price index showing the increase in the cost of living for pensioners has risen in each year since 1979; and by how much the retirement pension has risen in each year since 1979.

Mr. Major

The information requested is in the table:

	Percentage increase
	RP* single	RP* couple	PPI† single	PPI† couple
November 1979 to November 1980	16.5	16.5	14.7	14.0
November 1980 to November 1981	9.0	9.0	10.7	11.5
November 1981 to November 1982	11.0	11.0	7.5	7.0

Sheffield
	North East	North West	South East	South West	Total
April 1982–83
Awards	5,691	6,370	4,755	3,290	20,106
Value (£)	346,698	322,683	225,539	167,644	1,062,564
April 1983–84
Awards	10,217	8,898	8,110	4,125	31,350
Value (£)	812,592	634,242	484,045	284,323	2,215,202
April 1984–85
Awards	16,628	13,546	11,785	7,812	49,771
Value (£)	1,318,922	911,872	663,665	495,334	3,389,793
April 1985 to 14 January 1986
Awards	20,851	18,167	15,366	11,594	65,978
Value (£)	1,505,493	1,213,091	799,359	895,547	4,413,490

	Percentage increase
	RP*	RP*	PPI†	PPI†
	single	couple	single	couple
November 1982 to November 1983	3.7	3.7	4.6	4.8
November 1983 to November 1984	5.1	5.1	4.4	4.5
November 1984 to November 1985	7.0	7.0	4.8	4.7

^* Retirement pension.

^† Pensioner price index.