§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the percentage which old age pension levels bear to average earnings and restore the link between the two.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the old age pensioners' organisations from which he has recently received representations regarding the present levels of pensions.
§ Mr. HagueSince January this year, I have received representations on the level of pensions from the Craigmillar Heart to Heart Self Support Group; the Bedford Community Retirement Group; the Mid-Devon Tenants' Group Cullompton Area Committee; the Pensioners' Rights Campaign and United Pensioners.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with pensioners' groups regarding present levels of old age pensions.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the relationship between pensions and the cost of living; and what assessment he has made of the operation of the linkage between the two in 1992–93 and 1993–94.
§ Mr. HagueI have no plans for a review of this sort. Retirement pension has maintained its value against increases in the cost of living throughout this Government's term of office. This April, the retirement pension uprating included an additional element, above the increase in the retail prices index, for extra help with the cost of VAT on fuel.