HC Deb 17 October 1950 vol 478 cc1863-5
23. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that the pay of all officers, men and women in the Navy, Army and Royal Air Force has been raised, he will consider a similar increase in the pensions and allowances of all ex-Service men and women.

24. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Pensions if we will now set up an inquiry to see what improvements should be made in war pensions in view of the increased cost of living.

The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Mar quand)

The improvements which the Government have made in the rehabilitation, the pensions and allowances and the welfare of the war disabled are being steadily maintained, as reference to the Twenty-Fifth Report of my Department, now being printed, will show. For instance—

Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport

On a point of order. Is it in order for the right hon. Gentleman to talk with a hot potato in his mouth? I cannot hear a word he says.

Mr. Marquand

I am sorry if the hon. and gallant Gentleman did not hear me.

Mr. Buchan-Hepburn

We could not hear either.

Mr. Marquand

I am sorry. For instance, the number of the main supplements to pension in payment has increased from 15,000 at December, 1947, to 44,000 at July, 1950, and the average payment to 100 per cent. disabled men which was £2 7s. 10d. per week in 1938 is now £4 per week, tax free. The majority of such men are in employment and earning wages. I am in regular consultation with my Central Advisory Committee on all details of administration of the pension code. The fullest possible information is regularly given to Parliament in Annual Reports. There is therefore no reason for any special inquiry.

Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport

Is the hon. Member aware that, to take one example, the basic 100 per cent. pension of a totally disabled lieutenant is rather less than the standard minimum wage for an unskilled wage earner? Is that fair, or is it adequate?

Mr. Marquand

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman would only do what I asked him to do and read the Annual Reports which I present to Parliament, he would know that no disabled war pensioner has to live on his disability pension only.

Mr. Russell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that only a small proportion of pensioners are receiving anything more than the basic pension and that many of them are far worse off than unskilled wage earners?

Mr. Marquand

The vast majority of war pensioners are, of course, fortunately receiving wages or some other form of income. Those who are not are adequately catered for by the generous supplements I have just mentioned.

Sir Ian Fraser

Will the Minister say whether the rise which will inevitably take place in long-service pensions as the result of the increase in Service pay, will be taken into account by the Government in any adjustment which they may find it possible to make in the basic rate of war pension?

Mr. Marquand

I have no knowledge of the increase to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

Mr. Harrison

Can my right hon. Friend tell us whether on any past occasion pension rates have been so generously adjusted?

Commander Noble

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in his reply he referred only to disability pensions, whereas Question No. 23 refers to pensions generally? Does his answer mean that, after the increases in pay about which we heard the other day, we may expect no further statement from the Minister of Defence on pensions?

Mr. Marquand

Clearly, that question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence.