To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when state benefits and pensions will be increased to take account of inflation; and what level of increase may be expected.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in his statement to the House on 24 October, social security benefits will be uprated from 8 April 1991. Retirement pensions and other long-term benefits will be increased by 10·9 per cent., in line with the retail prices index, and income-related benefits by 8·1 per cent., reflecting the increase in the RPI excluding housing costs. Housing benefit and income support provide separately for these costs.