Why the 'pint of milk' test is past its sell-by date Not one person, however, could recall the cost of the annual television license (£145.50) - a legal requirement for the 97 per cent of households with a television set. When it came to the question of state pensions, however, the respondents were much quicker to respond - with the wrong answers. Almost all of those surveyed estimated the state pension to be a meagre £60 per week, when the weekly payout is £107.45. Nick Clegg, who believes universal benefits for the elderly, including free bus passes and television licences, should be means-tested, fell into a similar trap four years ago when he declared a single person's pension was "about £30 a week." Perhaps the most surprising survey result of all is that the men gave more accurate answers than the women, and not just when quizzed about the price of beer. Here, we present a snapshot of the answers given by members of the public in our cost of living survey - and the excuses they gave for getting the prices wrong. Amal Solomons,19, a courier from Mill Hill, north London Is a pint of milk around 60p? I don't really know. A Mars Bar is definitely around 60p; I eat them all the time! I think a litre of petrol costs around £1.38, but I cycle, I don't drive. I have no idea how much a first class stamp costs. Nelly Evans, 36, mother from Fulham, south-west London I don't buy milk by the pint, but I guess it would cost around 40p. I think bread is normally around £1.23. A box of teabags is around £2.50. I don't really know about TV licence - probably between £80 and £100? James Wardell, 30, project manager from Barnes, south-west London A Mars Bar and a packet of Walkers are both around 60p. I'd guess that a first class stamp is around the same, but I don't know much a litre of petrol is, though. And I have no idea about the state pension... Bernice Hickman, 69, "lady of leisure in London" A loaf of bread must be around a pound? A box of teabags is about the same, I think. I wouldn't have a clue about the price of a pint of beer or a TV licence, though. I should know about the state pension - I'm on it! Is it around £160 a week? I'd imagine that a ticket to the football at the Olympics must be around £1,000 [ticket prices start at £20] Millar Maxwell, 20, student in Newcastle In London things obviously cost more, but I think the national average for a pint of lager would be around £3.40. I think a litre of petrol is around £1.80. I have a licence but I don't drive at the moment, it's too expensive. But I have no idea how much the state pension is. I know that my sister has one, though! Jess Short, 22, trainee marketing manager from south London I don't know really, but I'd guess that a pint of milk is £1 and a loaf of bread is between 80p and £1. I have no clue about a first class stamp or a litre of petrol. I'd guess that a state pension is less than £100 a week and I think a TV licence costs around £120 for the year. Gary Coia, 49, accountant from Glasgow A Mars Bar is now around 95p, and a bag of crisps 55p. In Scotland a pint of lager is cheaper than it down here, but I'd say the national average would be around £3.75. The state pension is something like £65 per week. Edward Bond, 31, structural engineer from Clapham, south London I know that a first-class stamp is 60p, and I'd say that the Daily Telegraph is around £1. I'm going to the football at the Olympics and my ticket cost £65.