§ 26. Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning restoration of the link between earnings and retirement pensions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardWe have received a total of 1,941 representations between 11 January 1989 and 9 January 1990 on pensioners' incomes, the majority of which concerned the link with earnings. We have no plans to restore the link; the Government do not accept that uprating retirement pension in line with earnings is the key factor in improving pensioners' incomes. Between 1979 and 1986 pensioners' average total net income increased by 23 per cent. in real terms.
§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the future of small self-administered pension schemes.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd) on 20 December 1989 at column304.