HC Deb 15 June 1925 vol 185 cc39-41
81. Mr. LOWTH

asked the Minister of Health if the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill, in its present form, secures benefits to the persons, of ages between 65 and 70 years, who were dismissed from their employment when they reached 65 years of age and have now dropped out of insurance by reason of their inability to pay the whole of the premium?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)

An insured person between the ages of 65 and 70 on the 2nd January, 1928, will be entitled to an old age pension provided he satisfies the statutory conditions. It does not follow, because a man lost his employment and has failed to secure other employment, that he has ceased to be an insured person or that it will be impossible for him to comply with the statutory conditions. The object of the Prolongation of Insurance Act was to keep in insurance persons who, being out of work, were genuinely seeking work, and in applying the statutory condition requiring payment of at least 39 contributions on average in the two contribution years immediately prior to the 2nd January, 1927, weeks of genuine unemployment as well as weeks of sickness will be treated as weeks for which contributions were paid.

Major HORE-BELISHA

Is the position not still more serious in regard to those employé's who are bound to retire at the age of 60, as Government employés do?

Sir K. WOOD

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put a question down I will give him an explanation about that.

82. Mr. OAKLEY

asked the Minister of Health what method he proposes to adopt after 2nd January, 1928, with regard to the collection of contributions payable by employers in respect of insured persons over the age of 65 years?

Sir K. WOOD

The Pensions Bill applies to these contributions the ordinary provisions as to the collection of contributions under the Insurance Act, subject to any prescribed modifications. My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to state precisely what modifications of the usual machinery of collection may be required, but it will probably be necessary to issue a special card.

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

May I ask if the Regulations to be made under the Act covering this and other points will be made before the Bill becomes law?

Sir K. WOOD

No, we have no power to make Regulations before the Bill becomes law.