asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her Department's estimate of the impact of the Budget and related matters in particular the increases in nationalised industry prices, on the standard of living of the recipients of supplementary benefit, retirement pensions and the chronically sick and disabled.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has stated that the retail prices index will rise by about 2¾ per cent. as a result of the Budget measures. The Government are, and will continue to be, fully alive to the impact of this, and of the effects of increases in nationalised industry prices, on those mentioned by my hon. Friend