asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give the actual or estimated costs to the end of December 1976 for the payment of indexed pensions to retired public servants.

The cost of the 13·8 per cent. pension increase, payable from 1st December last, is estimated to be £114 million for the public services in a full year. The cost of public service pensions, including lump sums and inflation-proofing, for the financial year 1976–77 is estimated to be £1,140 million.