§ 60. Mr. WINGasked the Prime Minister if, in consequence of certain concessions to old age pensioners, the Government will consider the means of immediately assisting those who are sick, feeble, and helpless, to whom the concessions bring no help, either by Grant from the Treasury to local pension committees or an enabling order giving to local authorities the power to give to local pension committees such sums as will enable the pension committee to grant, after careful consideration, to the sick, feeble, and helpless old age pensioner a sum not exceeding 7s. 6d. per week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government are satisfied, after careful inquiry into this matter, that there are cases of hardship which call for relief and for 2267 which provision must be made. The suggestion of my hon. Friend amongst others is receiving attention.
§ Mr. WARDLEMay I ask whether any public announcement will be made before the House adjourns?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have already made an announcement.
§ 80. Mr. PETOasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the instructions, referred to in White Paper Cd. 8320, to pension officers not to raise questions in the case of existing pensioners in respect of any temporary increase of means due to pensioners' re-employment on account of shortage of labour during the War, are intended to apply to cases where the old age pensioner is the wife or other dependant of the person in receipt of increased wages due to the War; and, if there is any ambiguity in regard to the interpretation of the instructions, whether he will issue further instructions to deal with the point?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. McKinnon Wood)The instructions do not apply to the cases mentioned by my hon. Friend.