§ Mr. KaufmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the components of the cost of living index on which increases in the retirement pension are based.
§ Mr. LeeRetirement pensions are uprated in line with the "all items" retail prices index. The index covers practically all the goods and services on which people spend their money. The main groups used for classification are food, catering, alcoholic drink, tobacco, housing, fuel and light, household goods, household services, clothing and footwear, personal goods and services, motoring expenditure, fares and other travel costs, leisure goods and leisure services.