§ Mrs. CastleI beg leave to present a Petition addressed to this House and signed by over 2,300,000 old-age pensioners and others in Great Britain. The Petitioners stress that old-age pensioners are suffering great hardship on account of the increase in the cost of living, and that the basic rate of the old-age pension of 26s. per week has now become insufficient for the purchase of the necessities of life; they also point out that most wage or salary earning sections of the community have received increases in the rates of wages or salaries to offset the increase in the cost of living.
Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray that legislation should be passed forthwith for the relief of old-age pensioners and those who may hereafter become entitled to old-age pensions by raising the basic rate of the old-age pension the extent necessary to meet the essential amenities of life.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.Petition to lie upon the Table.