asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the difference between the pension which will be paid to a ward sister who retires during the next 18 months taking into account the salary actually paid in 1985–86 and what she would have received had the review body recommendation been paid for the whole of that year.

No meaningful estimate can be made: an individual's pension award depends on his or her date of retirement, length of service and final year's superannuable pay which will include allowances and special duty (unsocial hours) payments as well as basic salary.