HC Deb 09 December 1947 vol 445 cc821-3
3. Mr. J. L. Williams

asked the Minister of Pensions whether consideration has been given to the Petition presented to this House, on 26th March last, on behalf of the Next-of-Kin of War Deceased Organisation of Scotland; and if steps are to be taken to compensate parents along the lines proposed in the Petition.

Mr. Buchanan

Since the Petition was presented, the claim that a flat rate pension should be granted to all parents who have suffered the loss of sons or daughters in the war was the subject of the Adjournment Debate in the House on 9th June, and both my predecessor and my Parliamentary Secretary have met representatives from the Next-of-Kin of War Deceased Organisation of Scotland and other organisations with similar aims. The Government, however, remain of the view that the present scheme, liberally interpreted, which takes account of need is preferable to a flat rate scheme which would ignore it.

Mr. Williams

Will not the Minister agree that while the great improvements are widely appreciated, this Petition commands a large volume of support?

Mr. Buchanan

All these are matters of finance. The whole question, as with other demands which are made on us, depends on which is the best way to spend State money. I have already indicated my views, and there the matter must remain.

Mr. Collins

Will not my hon. Friend agree that, however liberally this measure is interpreted, the maximum pension payable is £1 a week, and does not he think it should be increased?

Mr. Buchanan

I am prepared to meet Members from any quarter of the House to consider how far we can ease the situation. I have a very open mind on the subject, and I am prepared to consider any point which is brought before me.

Mr. Lipson

Will the Minister give an assurance that the scheme will be liberally interpreted in practice, in granting pensions?

Mr. Buchanan

I think that during all the time I have been in office, I have shown my earnestness about liberal treatment in these matters.

Mr. Gallacher

s: Will the Minister reconsider this matter, in view of the fact that there are so many mothers in this country who have lost their sons and who feel that they are being completely forgotten by the Government? Does not he agree that it is undesirable to have forgotten mothers in the country, and that small weekly pensions collected at the post office, even if they are not in urgent need of them, would make a very big difference to their feelings?

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that what he is asked to do is not to redistribute the present amount of money on a different basis, but to persuade his colleagues in the Government to grant a small amount of extra money which would be necessary in order to apply in this war the principle which was applied in the last war?

Mr. Buchanan

First of all, I would like to correct the impression that I am a right hon. Gentleman. I am not averse to seeing whether the amount which we have to distribute to these people can be increased. The question which I would be prepared to discuss with hon. Members when the increased amount is allocated, is, what is the best way to make sure that the right people receive it?

6. Mr. Parkin

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give an estimate of the approximate cost of disregarding the first 20s. of earnings in all cases when assessing parents' pensions.

Mr. Buchanan

I regret that a reliable estimate could not be made without a detailed examination of a very wide cross-section of varying types of case, numbering in all some 80,000. On a very broad survey of the position it looks as though the cost of the hon. Member's proposal would be somewhere round about £75,000 a year.

Mr. Parkin

In view of that very modest estimate, would not the Minister undertake this wide survey in order that we might have the facts before us of what it would cost to make these concessions.

Mr. Buchanan

I think that even if it were done my figure would not be found to be so far out. What the hon. Gentleman wishes is a figure to work on, and that represents a fairly good average estimate.

Mr. Parkin

Will my hon. Friend work on that figure?