§ 49. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet will favourably consider a temporary increase to certain classes of war pensioners to meet the rise in the cost of living which has taken place since the Pensions Warrant was revised in September last, with a view to making good the higher cost of living, in view of the fact that this rise is now officially estimated as being 150 per cent. above the figures for July, 1914, while the new rent increases will also press hardly on totally disabled men and other pensioners who are quite unable to add to their income?
§ Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the Western Division of Derbyshire on the 16th instant.
§ Captain LOSEBYArising out of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he could not consider the advisability of putting in motion the sliding scale machinery recommended by the Select Committee on Pensions which was postponed for the good of the soldiers by the Government until Easter, 1922—could not that be anticipated?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think the answer to which I have referred is a pretty full answer. We cannot have changes week by week and month by month, and the view of the Government is that the present arrangement is the best possible.