§ 22. Sir Jocelyn Lucasasked the Minister of National Insurance when Mrs. M. E. Butler, pension No. 03474675, Mr. W. G. Cogger, pension No. 08404445, Mrs. F. B. Foot, pension No. 33831098, and Miss Florence Rose, no pension number, all of South sea, and about whom the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South, has previously made representations, may expect their old age pensions or new pension books as the Case may be.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Insurance (Mr. Steele)As I have already informed the hon. Member by letter, the first three cases have already been satisfactorily cleared. The fourth, on which difficult issues arise, is still under investigation, and as promised, I will write to the hon. Member again when inquiries have been completed.
§ Sir J. LucasWould my hon. Friend bear in mind that the last case has been going on for eight months? Surely, it could be hurried up?
§ Mr. SteeleYes, I appreciate that. It is a difficult case, and we are making exhaustive inquiries to try to give it personal attention.
§ Mr. Martin LindsayIs the Minister aware that Portsmouth, South, is by no means the only place where people have not got their pensions books, and that every Member of Parliament gets some half-dozen letters a week on this very sad subject? Can the hon. Gentleman tell the House when this is going to end, and when those people who are entitled to pensions books will have them?
§ Mr. SteeleAs far as that is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the very full and comprehensive statement made by my right hon. Friend on 11th March.