§ 69. Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether he has received a resolution from the Darlington Board of Guardians referring to the operation of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, and protesting against its continuance in its present form on the grounds that by depriving many people of sources of income which but for its inception they would still be able to enjoy the Act is throwing upon the ratepayers a heavy additional burden in relieving persons thus deprived; and whether he will adopt measures for the amendment of this Act which, without detracting from the benefits conferred by it, will also secure to needly pensioners the retention of those benefits accruing from the national health and unemployment insurance schemes to which by virtue of their contributions they are entitled?
§ Sir K. WOODI have received this resolution and I would refer the hon. Member to the remarks made by my right hon. Friend in the course of the Debate last Wednesday on a Motion of the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Cove).
§ Mr. SHEPHERDIs information available to show what is the extra burden put upon the local rates by the operation of this Act?
§ Sir K. WOODIf the hon. Member will study the statement made by my right hon. Friend last week, he will see that, taking all the circumstances into consideration, so far from being a burden it is a relief.