asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been, for a worker on average earnings retiring in (a) 1974, (b) 1979, (c) 1984, and (d) 1987 (i) the level of the retirement pension, (ii) average occupational pension, (iii) the state earnings related pension scheme pension, where applicable, (iv) average investment income for a worker on average earnings.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 April 1987 c. 632]: The available information is shown in the tables. Table 1 gives the level of the single person's full rate basic pension at uprating dates in each of the years specified, and the level of state earnings related pension awarded to a man on average earnings retiring on 6 April of each of those years. I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 12 January 1987 at columns 123–24 for the assumptions governing these figures. Table 2 shows the average amounts of occupational pension and investment income received weekly by all tax units in the specified age groups in each of the years for which information is available. It is not possible to identify those people retiring in the years specified, nor is information on previous earnings histories available from the family expenditure survey data upon which this table is based.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures setting out the components of net weekly spending power in November 1985 and November 1986 for each of a single and a married retirement pensioner, assuming (a) £15 a week rent and £7 rates and (b) £30 a week rent and £10 a week rates, and with the following amounts of income in addition to the state basic pension: £0, £5, £10, £15, £20, £30, £40, £50 and £100 respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 April 1987, c. 31–32]: The information requested is shown in the tables. The housing benefit components did not change between November 1985 and November 1986 because at the July 1986 uprating, the needs allowances were increased exactly in line with retirement pensions.