§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will express the value in real terms of the 1987 pensioners' Christmas bonus compared with its value in 1972, based upon movements in(a) the retail prices index and (b) average wages.
§ Mr. ScottIt is not yet possible to determine the real value of the 1987 Christmas bonus as compared with the 1972 bonus. At December 1986 prices, the 1972 Christmas bonus would have been worth £44.29. If increased in line with the increase in average male manual earnings, the 1972 bonus would have been worth £49.56 at December 1986.