§ 52. Major M'KENZIE WOODasked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the increase in the cost of living has made it necessary to raise the amount of the Old Age Pension, ho will consider the desirability of raising the limit of the private income which may be enjoyed in conjunction with an Old Age Pension'?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)A Committee is now sitting to consider this and other matters relating to Old Age Pensions, and I do not propose to introduce any changes pending the receipt of their Report.
§ Mr. RAFFANCan evidence be submitted to the Committee with reference to these points?
§ Mr. BALDWINI assume it was for questions of this nature that the Committee has been called together.
§ 66. Captain R. TERRELLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that many aged men have, owing to the conditions caused by the War, obtained temporary employment and, now that hostilities have ceased, are being discharged to make room for those whose places they have been temporarily filling during the War; whether the present method of calculating the means of applicants for an Old Age 563 Pension in the absence of other means for ascertaining the income as provided by Section 2 (1) (b) of the Old Age Pension Act, 1911, is, in many cases, a source of hardship to such applicants; and whether he will take steps to introduce legislation to secure an amendment of that Section?
§ Mr. BALDWINI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on this subject to the hon. and gallant Member for East Bradford on the 15th instant.