Pensions (Hansard, 26 October 1999)

§ Mr. O'Hara

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the value of the basic state pension for(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples for each 843W year since November 1979 to April 1999; what it would have been if it had been uprated in line with whichever was the higher of average earnings or prices; and what were the average earnings and retail prices index figures

Single pensioners
Uprating date	Actual rates £'s per week	Increased by higher of earnings or prices £'s per week	Earnings Percentage	Retail Prices Percentage	Period used
November 1979	23.30	23.30	—	—	—
November 1980	27.15	27.60	18.5	15.3	November 1979–80
November 1981	29.60	30.90	11.5	12.0	November 1980–81
November 1982	32.85	33.50	8.4	6.3	November 1981–82
November 1983	34.05	36.40	8.7	3.7	May 1982–83
November 1984	35.80	38.25	5.0	5.1	May 1983–84
November 1985	38.30	41.60	8.7	7.0	May 1984–85
July 1986	38.70	43.45	4.5	1.1	May 1985–January 1986
April 1987	39.50	45.90	5.6	2.1	January 1986–September 1986
April 1988	41.15	49.50	7.8	4.2	September 1986–87
April 1989	43.60	53.85	8.8	5.9	September 1987–88
April 1990	46.90	59.05	9.7	7.6	September 1988–89
April 1991	52.00	65.50	9.5	10.9	September 1989–90
April 1992	54.15	70.50	7.6	4.1	September 1990–91
April 1993	56.10	73.90	4.8	3.6	September 1991–92
April 1994	57.60	76.25	2.5	1.8	September 1992–93
April 1995	58.85	78.85	3.4	2.2	September 1993–94
April 1996	61.15	81.95	2.8	3.9	September 1994–95
April 1997	62.45	85.40	4.2	2.1	September 1995–96
April 1998	64.70	88.90	4.1	3.6	September 1996–97
April 1999	66.75	93.25	4.9	3.2	September 1997–98

Pensioner couples
Uprating date	Actual rates £'s per week	Increased by higher of earnings or prices £'s per week	Earnings Percentage	Retail Prices Percentage	Period used
November 1979	37.30	37.30	—	—	—
November 1980	43.45	44.20	18.5	15.3	November 1979–80
November 1981	47.35	49.50	11.5	12.0	November 1980–81
November 1982	52.55	53.65	8.4	6.3	November 1981–82
November 1983	54.50	58.30	8.7	3.7	May 1982–83
November 1984	57.30	61.25	5.0	5.1	May 1983–84
November 1985	61.30	66.60	8.7	7.0	May 1984–85
July 1986	61.95	69.60	4.5	1.1	May 1985–January 1986
April 1987	63.25	73.50	5.6	2.1	January 1986–September 1986
April 1988	65.90	79.25	7.8	4.2	September 1986–87
April 1989	69.80	86.20	8.8	5.9	September 1987–88
April 1990	75.10	94.55	9.7	7.6	September 1988–89
April 1991	83.25	104.85	9.5	10.9	September 1989–90
April 1992	86.70	112.85	7.6	4.1	September 1990–91
April 1993	89.80	118.30	4.8	3.6	September 1991–92
April 1994	92.10	121.95	2.5	1.8	September 1992–93
April 1995	94.10	126.10	3.4	2.2	September 1993–94
April 1996	97.75	131.05	2.8	3.9	September 1994–95
April 1997	99.80	136.55	4.2	2.1	September 1995–96
April 1998	103.40	142.15	4.1	3.6	September 1996–97
April 1999	106.70	149.10	4.9	3.2	September 1997–98

Notes:

1. The Retail Prices Index (all items) has been used as published by the Office for National Statistics.

2. Average Earnings Index Whole Economy (Non Seasonally Adjusted) as published by the Office for National Statistics.

3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating.

4. From April 1994 the basic rate of Retirement Pension has been increased by 50p on a single person and 70p on a pensioner couple to reflect VAT on fuel.

5. The figures for November 1978 to November 1982 have been calculated using actual increases in Retail Prices Index rather than forecast increases.

844W

in the month which determined the level of the state pension each year since 1979. [95678]