HC Deb 27 November 1989 vol 162 cc140-1W
25. Mr. Roy Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he is considering restoring the index link between pensions and earnings.

51. Mr. Watson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will reconsider his decision not to uprate pensions in line with earnings.

59. Mr. Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will reconsider his decision not to uprate pensions in line with earnings.

74. Mr. Maxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will review his decision not to uprate pensions in line with earnings.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I have no plans to restore the link between pensions and earnings. The Government do not accept that uprating state retirement pension in line with earnings is the key factor in improving pensioners' incomes. Between 1979 and 1986 pensioners' average total net incomes increased by 23 per cent. in real terms.

55. Mr. Skinner

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will meet pensioners' representatives to discuss linking pensions to wages and prices; and if he will make a statement.

77. Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met representatives of pensioners' organisations; and what matters where discussed.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State regularly meets representatives of pensioners' organisations. The last meeting he attended was shortly before the summer recess when he met a delegation from the joint committee of pensioner organisations. Amongst the topics of discussion were the reform changes, pensioners' incomes, the uprating of retirement pension, the poorer pensioners' package and National Health Service changes.

Mr. Baldry

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out recent measures to benefit pensioners; and what steps are being taken to inform those eligible of new entitlement.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

In addition to the annual uprating of benefits we have introduced two wholly beneficial changes for pensioners with effect from October 1989—the abolition of the retirement pension earnings rule and the extra help for less well off elderly and disabled pensioners. Pensioners benefiting from the latter change who received income support or housing benefit had their benefit automatically increased. Separate national publicity campaigns were mounted to announce both these changes. We also identified and contacted nearly 3½ million individuals who were likely to be affected.

Mr. Adley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average per capita cost of implementing an increase in pensions.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.