§ 52. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that at the national conference of the representatives of the National Free Church Council, friendly 1182 societies, trade temperance societies, trades councils, representing 3,000,000 of people, held on 1st July at Newcastle, passed a resolution urging that immediate action should be taken by the Government to alleviate the conditions of the old age pensioners who are suffering under the present increased cost of living, and protesting against the inequalities and penalties imposed on thrift and personal provision for old age by the administration of the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 and 1911, and further urging such amendments to the Acts as would enable an old age pension to be paid to every person insured under the National Insurance Acts on attaining the age of seventy years who, for at least twenty years up to the date of the receipt of any sum on account of a pension, had been a British subject and had his residence in the United Kingdom; and to enable all provision for old age made through registered frendly societies, trade unions, employers' provident funds, and benevolent institutions to be exempt from calculation as income in any application for a State pension; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir. I have seen these resolutions. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made yesterday to a deputation from the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, of which he was a member.