§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the basic retirement pension rates for(a) a single person and (b) a married couple would have been in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, and would be in 2000–01, if they had been increased in April 1998, 1999 and 2000 in line with the increase in average earnings for the year to the previous September. [98414]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is in the table.
£ 1998–99 rate 1999–00 rate 2000–01 rate Single person 65.00 68.20 71.35 Married couple 103.90 109.00 114.05 Notes:
- 1. The rate has been calculated assuming 100 per cent. entitlement to Retirement Pension.
- 2. Average Earnings Index Whole Economy (non-seasonally adjusted), September on September, as published by the Office for National Statistics, have been used for the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 upratings.
- 3. Whole Economy Earnings—(headline rate 3 month average) at July 1999 as published by the Office for National Statistics, have been used to uprate 2000–01. The headline rate is the annual change in the average of the seasonally adjusted series over 3 months. The September 1999 index is not yet available.
- 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating.