§ 60. Mr. PRICEasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that ex-service officers and men drawing pensions are being invited to save a portion of their pensions; that anxiety is felt by many recipients of these pensions that this may be used as a precedent for reducing them; and whether he can reassure these men that this will not be done?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Ramsbotham)Yes, Sir. Under a scheme made with the help of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer my Department offer to reserve any portion of a disability pension that the pensioner may desire to save, and to invest it for him. The scheme is, of course, entirely optional. I am aware that fears have been expressed by some pensioners as to the consequences of any saving by them, and I am glad of this opportunity to give the most positive assurance that their fears are unfounded. I have already taken steps to reassure 228 pensioners by notice in the public Press, and pensioners will individually receive a personal message on this point from me, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ Major COLFOXCan the hon. Gentleman say why the amount that a pensioner is allowed to save in this way is so very strictly limited to 5s. a week?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI should require notice of that question.