§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the administrative costs of his Department rose by more or less than the retail price index in the last financial year.
§ Miss WiddecombeOverall, the administrative costs of the Department increased by more than the retail prices index in 1989–90. This figure includes a large capital investment programme in respect of the computerisation of the benefits system, which will produce substantial savings in later years. If this element is excluded, the administrative costs rose by slightly less than the retail prices index.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the ratio between the pensions of single people and couples; and when it was last reviewed.
§ Miss WiddecombeThere is no basic retirement pension rate for married couples as such. The full category A pension for a single person stands currently at £46.90. A married man on this rate of pension can claim an adult 195W dependency increase (ADI) of £28.20 for a wife under 60 years of age; a wife over pensionable age could receive a category BL pension in her own right at the same rate, based on her husband's contributions. Since 1973, both the ADI and the category BL pension have been uprated in line with the single category A pension. This has meant that the ratio of the ADI or category BL to the single category A retirement pension has remained at about 60 per cent. since 1973.