asked the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex, Official Report, 15 November, column 699, if he will give the total net cost, exclusive of contributions, for inflation-proofing Civil Service pensions in the past five financial years, the estimated cost in the current year, and the expected cost in the next financial year.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The contributions paid by civil servants amount on average to 7 per cent. of salary and consist of three elements: a contribution by male civil servants for family benefits; a reduction in salary level to take account of the average extra contribution paid by those with whom their pay is compared; and a further reduction to reflect all differences in benefits between the Civil Service scheme and those outside. The contribution towards inflation-proofing is contained within these three elements and cannot readily be separated from them