asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the percentage of male and female retirement pensioners who are in receipt of increments and the percentage who receive the maximum number of 10 increments in respect of the latest available awards.

Of all those taking their retirement pensions in the first quarter of this year, 51 per cent. of the men and 28 per cent. of the women qualified for at least one increment. The corresponding figures for those qualifying for 10 increments were 14 per cent. and 7 per cent.