§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in which of the past 10 years (i) the single person's full basic retirement pension, (ii) the married couple's full basic state retirement pension and (iii) the married woman's pension rate has been(a) rounded up and (b) rounded down. [17861]
§ Mr. HealdThe category A basic retirement pension—the single person's retirement pension—was rounded up for the years: 1989, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997 and was rounded down for the years: 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1995.
The category B basic retirement pension—the married women's retirement pension—was rounded up for the years: 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992 and was rounded down for the years: 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.
The married couples rates consists of the single rate plus the married woman's pension and is therefore not uprated independently.
Note:
In 1994 an amount was added to the standard rate of basic retirement pension in respect of an addition for VAT on fuel. The rounding calculation was carried out before this extra amount was added.