§ 7. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in a number of cases of pre-war police pensioners the receipt of the old age pension means a corresponding reduction of the police pension now being received; and whether he will take steps to secure the payment of the full pension?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAs I explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Drake Division of Plymouth, increases of police pensions under the Pensions (Increase) Acts are by Statute subject to a means limit, and the Treasury Regulations governing the grant of such increases do not allow a police authority to disregard an old age pension when assessing a pensioner's means. I do not see my way to propose any alteration in this respect.
§ Mr. THORNEIn consequence of this Act having been passed long before the Old Age Pensions Act, cannot that be taken into consideration, and cannot the right hon. Gentleman see whether some alterations could be made to meet the case of these men who are being penalised at the rate of 10s. a week?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt is exactly the same whether a person is pensionable or whether he has private means. In the same way under the original Old Age Pensions Act, pensions or other forms of private means are taken into consideration.
§ Mr. HAYESIn view of the great discrepancy between pre-war and post-war pensions, though earned by almost exactly the same work and service, would not the removal of the limitation provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act meet the difficulty in this case.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSit would improve matters, and so it would improve matters with regard to other forms of pensions, if all restrictive limits were removed.
13. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Health if he will furnish approximate figures of the number of women aged 65 and under 70, wives of insured men aged 70 or who will be 70 prior to 2nd January, 1928, who will be ineligible for the old age pension until they reach 1156 the age of 70; and whether, when the women reach the age of 70, they will, be eligible for the old age pension, irrespective of income?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs regards the first part of the question, I have no information as to the number of women in the category referred to; as regards the second part, the women will, on attaining 70, be entitled, irrespective of income, to old age pensions provided their husbands were entitled to old age pensions by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925.
15. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Health, whether, all cases where an insured man reaches the age of 70 prior to 2nd January, 1928, the wife will be treated as ineligible for old age pension between the age of 65 and 70; and, if so, under what Section of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 2nd instant to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey).