HC Deb 21 July 1953 vol 518 cc193-4
31. Miss Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will move to set up a Select Committee to consider the financial hardships of the small income groups, and report.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not think a Committee such as my hon. Friend suggests is necessary.

Miss Ward

Is my hon. Friend aware that, in my view, this is a most unjust decision and that it is quite unfair that these people should be deprived of Parliamentary protection which Parliament has decided upon for itself? It is not cricket, it is most unfair, and I am thoroughly ashamed of my hon. Friend's answer.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I think my hon. Friend is, perhaps, somewhat exaggerating the value of the appointment of Select Committees. Of course, my right hon. Friend gives personal attention to this matter.

Mr. Hamilton

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that on 20th April the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that between October, 1951, and that date the cost of food had risen by 15 per cent., and, bearing in mind the reasonable assumption that the lower income groups, particularly old age pensioners, spend about 50 per cent. of their income on food, does not the 15 per cent. increase more than offset the 2s. 6d. increase in old age pensions? What is the hon. Gentleman going to do about it?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The hon. Gentleman is overlooking both the very large number of adjustments in taxation which have been made for the benefit of these people and the stability, which I am sure he welcomes, in food prices recently.

Miss Ward

In view of my hon. Friend's comments about taxation, will he do a little more by further reducing taxes on small incomes, because that is one of the things that I am asking for?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

My hon. Friend must not expect me to anticipate next year's Budget statement.

Mr. Lewis

Can the hon. Gentleman say what tax remissions the old age pensioner and his wife who are on basic pension got from the last Budget?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question on the Order Paper.

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