asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the cumulative increase in the retirement pensioners' cost of living index in the three years to the end of February 1977.

The all-items indices for pensioner households exclude housing and are published on a quarterly basis. The indices for one-person and two-person pensioner households rose by 69·4 and 68·3 per cent. respectively between the first quarter of 1974 and the fourth quarter of 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the cumulative increase in the retail price index in the three years to the end of February 1977.

The retail price index increased by 71·2 per cent. between 19th February 1974 and 15th February 1977.