HC Deb 18 May 1950 vol 475 cc1394-5
67. Mr. Profumo

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider amending the existing arrangements with regard to the payment of post-war credits, so that in the event of death before payment the entitlements shall be paid to the estate of the deceased either when the widow reaches the age of 60 of when the deceased would have been 65 in the case of a man or 60 in the case of a woman, whichever is the earlier.

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

If post-war credits are left to a widow she can claim repayment on reaching the age of 60. I cannot extend the arrangements as suggested by the hon. Member.

Mr. Profumo

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that great injustice is being caused in hundreds of cases to people who are being barred from getting what is, in justice, due to them? Is he aware that there are many cases where people will never get post-war credits at all, because they get passed down from father to son, and so on? Is this what his right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor desires to do in this respect?

Mr. Jay

No, there is no injustice— [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—as long as everybody has the opportunity of getting post-war credits at the same age. There would be injustice if we differentiated between one person and another.

Mr. Shurmer

Could my hon. Friend tell us what the position would be in the case of an applicant who had put in an application for his post-war credits and died during the period of transfer?

Mr. Jay

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would put that question on the Paper

Mr. Profumo

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is grave concern all over the country about the treatment of postwar credits by the Government? Does he realise that people are calling his right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor very rude names, which I am inclined to think he deserves, because this is the most monstrous swindle that any Government has ever perpetrated?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a question.