§ Sir Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the value of the basic state retirement pension as a proportion of gross average earnings in the United Kingdom for each year since 1970; [10204]
(2) what was (a) the annual percentage increase in the state pension and (b) the year on year April to April retail prices index for each year since 1970. [10259]
§ Mr. HealdThe information is in the table. the rate of increase in the basic pension has been converted to an annual rate where the length of time between upratings was greater or less than 12 months.
As there was no uprating in 1970 the value of the basic pension during that year is shown in the last column of the table as a percentage of average gross earnings at April 1970.
365W
Year Month of uprating Rate of basic retirement pension £ per week Increase over previous rate percentage Equivalent annual increase percentage Change in RPI since previous AprilRate as a percentage of average earnings percentage percentage 1990 April 46.90 7.6 7.6 9.4 17.8 1991 April 52.00 10.9 10.9 6.4 18.3 1992 April 54.15 4.1 4.1 4.3 17.8 1993 April 56.10 3.6 3.6 1.3 17.7 1994 April 57.60 2.7 2.7 2.6 17.7 1995 April 58.85 2.2 2.2 3.3 17.5 1996 April 61.15 3.9 3.9 n/a n/a Source:
"The Abstract of Statistics for Social Security Benefits and Contributions and Indices of Prices and Earnings", 1995 edition. Average earnings index (whole economy, unadjusted) (Tables 2.1 and 2.2 of the abstract).
Retail prices index information taken from table 1.1.