§ 17. Sir I. Fraserasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will now raise disability pensions, having regard to the fact that the present figure of 37s. 6d. a week for 100 per cent. disability is in the majority of cases less than the subsistence minimum recently approved in principle by His Majesty's Government?
§ Sir W. WomersleyThe rate of 37s. 6d. a week quoted by the hon. and gallant Member applies to a single man who is 100 per cent. disabled. If the subsistence minimum to which he refers is that recommended in the Beveridge Report, the rate for a single man is 24s. a week.
§ Sir I. FraserIs not my right hon. Friend neglecting all the facts, and thereby giving a wrong impression to the House? Under the proposals of the Beveridge Report a married man with children would receive £2 a week plus children's allowances, whereas the young men now being totally disabled do not get a marriage allowance or children's allowance as 80 per cent. of them are too young to be married? Will he not give sympathetic consideration to the matter, because in the majority of cases the soldiers are getting less than the household subsistence minimum under the Beveridge Report?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI always give sympathetic consideration to every suggestion 840 that my hon. and gallant Friend makes to me, and I assure him that I will give sympathetic consideration to this.