HC Deb 25 February 1953 vol 511 cc2093-5

The following Written Question stood upon the Order Paper:

Mr. FELL

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the replacement of tobacco tokens lost in the recent flood disaster by old-age pensioners.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and with that of the House, I will make a statement in reply to Written Question No. 15, in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell).

Tobacco tokens cannot normally be replaced when lost because, like money or postage stamps, they are freely exchangeable by the holder without proof of identity. But in the special circumstances of the recent East Coast disasters my right hon. Friend has, in order to avoid hardship to those who have lost their coupons, issued instructions that as an exceptional measure tobacco tokens lost by old-age pensioners in the floods should be replaced on application being made. The following arrangements will apply.

Those who have lost their tokens in this way should apply at the post office where they now cash their pension orders for a copy of the form they completed when making their first application for tobacco tokens. These forms are obtain- able at any post office. The form should be completed in the usual way and a declaration added on it that the previous book was lost in the floods. The completed form should then be returned to the post office on or before 11th March. It will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. The new books will be retrospective to 2nd February.

In order that full opportunity should be given to those concerned to avail themselves of this concession, Her Majesty's Government would be grateful for any help that hon. Members for the areas concerned may feel able to give in making these arrangements known to their constituents. Copies of this statement may be obtained from the Vote Office by hon. Members who might find it useful for this purpose. The normal arrangements for publicity are, of course, being made.

Mr. Fell

Does my hon. Friend realise that this statement will give great satisfaction to and be joyfully received by, those old people who have suffered in this way, particularly to those who have not been able to have a smoke for a couple of weeks? Do I gather from my hon. Friend's statement that they will be able to get their books immediately on filling up this form and signing this declaration? Could that point be made quite clear?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

They will get their books as soon after filling up the form as is administratively practicable. There will be a few days' lapse while the machinery operates.

Mr. Shurmer

While sympathising with those who lost their tobacco coupons in the recent floods, may I ask whether this would not apply to old-age pensioners who are unfortunate enough to have their homes, or part of them, destroyed by fire, and whose tobacco coupons are destroyed? That is a disaster. They have to lose their coupons. Could not this arrangement be made for them?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

That is a quite different question.

Mr. Shurmer

It is not.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

This is, of course, one of the provisions the Government are making in view of the special circumstances arising from the disaster on the East Coast.