72. After section 135 of the Administration Act there shall be inserted the following section—
135A.—(1) This section applies where a statement is made in the House of Commons by or on behalf of the Secretary of State which specifies—
(a)the amounts by which he proposes, by an order under section 150 of the Great Britain Administration Act, to increase—
(i)the weekly sums that are payable by way of retirement pension; or
(ii)the amount of graduated retirement benefit payable for each unit of graduated contributions; and
(b)the date on which he proposes to bring the increases into force (“the commencing date”).
(2) Where, before the commencing date and after the date on which the statement is made, an award is made of a retirement pension or a graduated retirement benefit, the award either may provide for the pension or benefit to be paid as from the commencing date at the increased rate or may be expressed in terms of the rate appropriate at the date of the award.”.