§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to raise the basic level for the retirement pension to half of average earnings for a couple and a third of average earnings for a single pensioner.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardWe have no plans to do so. The key factor in improving pensioners' incomes is their total income. Between 1979 and 1986 pensioners' average total net income increased by 23 per cent. in real terms, compared with a 3 per cent. increase between 1974 and 1979.
Source: Family Expenditure Survey.