§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken in the last six months with regard to the indexation of public sector pensions; what plans he has for determining future increases in public sector pensions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard[holding answer 7 May 1991]: Public service pensions are uprated annually in April in line with the movement in the retail prices index in the 12 months to the previous September. Accordingly, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security on 24 October 1990, at column 348, public service pensions as well as state retirement pensions and other benefits were increased by 10.9 per cent. from 8 April 1991. There are no plans to change the current indexation arrangements by which public service pensions are increased.