HC Deb 20 July 1950 vol 477 cc2476-7
59. Brigadier Terence Clarke

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take the necessary steps to enable post-war credits to be repaid to disabled people who are unfit for work.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Douglas Jay)

No, Sir.

Brigadier Clarke

Does the Minister realise that disabled people have great difficulty in paying their way in these days, and that this repayment of postwar credits would be of great benefit to them?

Mr. Jay

Yes, Sir. The difficulty is that this is one among various groups with special claims, and I am not convinced that we should be justified in selecting this one and leaving out the rest.

Mr. Profumo

Does not the hon. Gentleman's answer indicate that the whole question of post-war credits is most unsatisfactory, and that it ought to be reviewed in the light of the failure of, the Government to meet their commitments?

Mr. Jay

It would require legislation to make any alteration.

Mr. Profumo

Let us have it.

Mr. Jay

The whole matter will be reviewed again, in the normal way, before another Finance Bill is introduced.

Mr. De la Bère

The position is thoroughly unsatisfactory.