§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions' pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2002,Official Report, column 114W, on state pensions, if he 313W will increase the basic state pension increments paid to pensioners who retired before April 2002 so that they maintain their original proportionate value as outlined in Benefits Agency literature. [74742]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe legal requirement, as set out in our literature, is that where people defer taking their pensions and, as a result, earn increments, then for every six days of deferral (excluding Sundays and days for which certain N1 benefits are received) the amount of the increments will increase by about 1/7p for each £1.00 of the weekly rate payable at the time the person becomes entitled to the state pension. We are also obliged to increase all parts of state pension by at least the rate of RPI on an annual basis. We have met these legal requirements.