asked the Minister for the Public Service the progress he has made in his review of the payment dates for public service pensions since his reply to Parliamentary Questions 14 and 15 of 4 December 1980 on this topic.

As indicated in my reply to those questions, the possibility of changing the present arrangements for revising public service pensions on 1 July each year was considered in the course of the preparation of this year's budget. It was, however, decided that no alteration could be made in present circumstances.