HC Deb 06 October 1942 vol 383 cc1073-4
55. Mr. Stephen

asked the Chanceller of the Exchequer what it would cost to -provide pensions for old age pensioners on the basis of the figure of reasonable cost, set out in the Command Paper on Pay and Allowances of the Armed Forces, as the charge for board and lodgings and other items?

Sir K. Wood

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the figure of 35s. a week quoted in the White Paper as the estimate of the expenditure which would commonly be incurred by an unmarried man in civil employment, in respect of board and lodging, clothing, laundry, health and unemployment insurance, and transport to and from work, and some of these items are obviously not applicable to old age pensioners. I also assume that the basis which the hon. Member has in mind is not that universal pensions should be granted at the rate of 35s. a week, but that existing pensions, whether contributory or non-contributory, should be raised to this figure. The net additional cost on this basis would amount to about £230,000,000 a year at the present time.

Mr. Stephen

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has taken the figure he has given as a reasonable figure for the Forces, does he not consider that the pensions of old age pensioners should be increased?

Sir K. Wood

No, Sir, I do not think the cases are comparable.

Mr. Stephen

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what, apart from the insurance and the transport charges, an old age pensioner does not need that is allowed for in the other case?

Sir K. Wood

I would remind my hon. Friend that we discussed this subject at great length a short time ago.