HC Deb 16 December 1991 vol 201 cc87-8W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is in percentage terms the value of the state retirement pension for single people and couples, in relation to the index of average earnings, for each year since 1979.

Miss Widdecombe

Basic retirement pension is not a complete/relevant indicator of pensioners' well-being. What counts is their total income from all sources. Between 1979 and 1988 pensioners' average net incomes rose by 34 per cent. in real terms. However, the information requested is given in the tables.

Table 1
Value, in percentage terms, of basic retirement pension for a single person in relation to average earnings 1
Date2 Average Weekly3 Earnings Standard Rate Retirement Pension Percentage
£ £
November 1979 114.10 23.30 20.4
November 1980 135.10 27.15 20.1
November 1981 149.50 29.60 19.8
November 1982 160.60 32.85 20.5
November 1983 175.30 340.5 19.4
November 1984 187.40 35.80 19.1
November 1985 199.50 38.30 19.2
July 1986 210.90 38.70 18.3
April 1987 22400 39.50 17.6
April 1988 245.80 41.15 16.7
April 1989 269.50 43.60 16.2
April 1990 295.60 46.90 15.9
April 1991 320.60 52.00 16.2
1Average earnings are taken from the New Earnings Survey and are for all full-time adult males.
2As at the date of uprating each year.
3As at April each year.

Table 2
Value, in percentage terms, of basic state retirement pension for a married couple in relation to average earnings1.
Date2 Average weekly3 earnings Standard rale retirement pension Percentage
£ £
November 1979 114.10 37.30 32.7
November 1980 135.10 43.45 32.2
November 1981 149.50 47.35 31.7
November 1982 160.60 52.55 32.7
November 1983 175.30 54.50 31.1
November 1984 187.40 57.30 30.6
November 1985 199.50 61.30 30.7
July 1986 210.90 61.95 29.4
April 1987 224.00 63.25 28.2
April 1988 245.80 65.90 26.8
April 1989 269.50 69.80 25.9
April 1990 295.60 75.10 25.4
April 1991 320.60 83.25 26.0
1 The index of average earnings used is the all adult male new earnings survey.
2 As at the date of uprating each year.
3 As at April of each year.