§ The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Paul Boateng)Legislation governing public service pensions requires public service pensions to be increased annually by the same percentage as State earnings related pensions (additional pensions). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced on 19 November 2002,Official Report, column 16WS that benefits such as additional pensions will be increased by 1.7 per cent., in line with the annual increase in the Retail Prices Index up to September 2002. Public service pensions will therefore be increased by 1.7 73WS per cent, from 7 April 2003, except those which have been in payment for less than a year, which will receive a pro-rata increase.