§ Mr. DunnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in theOfficial Report the state pension entitlement for (a) single persons and (b) married couples as of April 1991; and if he will show comparable figures for April 1979 and indicate the change in real and nominal terms.
§ Miss WiddecombeAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 24 October last year, basic retirement pension from April 1991 will be £52 for a single person and £83.25 for a married couple. The amounts paid in April 1979 were £19.50 and £31.20370W respectively. The nominal change in the level of benefit over this period is therefore £32.50 for a single person and £52.05 for a married couple. Measurement of the change in the real value of benefit over this period cannot be calculated until the retail prices index for April 1991 is available.