§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he has any proposals to increase the basic state pension to one third of average male earnings for a single person, and one half of average male earnings for a couple where the partner's pension is dependent on her husband's contributions;
(2) if he has any proposals to introduce a basic non-means-tested state pension of not less than one third and one half of national male earnings for a single person and married couple, respectively.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe Government have honoured their commitment to maintain the value of the state retirement pension in line with prices. A link with earnings is not the key factor in improving pensioners' incomes. What matters most to pensioners is the value of their total income, from whatever source. The success of our policies is demonstrated by the over 31 per cent. real terms growth in pensioners' average total net income between 1979 and 1987.