HC Deb 29 June 1953 vol 517 cc9-10
16. Mr. Gower

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will take steps to ensure that payments made by the National Assistance Board to persons in need shall not be reduced solely by reason of increases in their retirement pensions or increases in pensions due to aggravation of their physical disabilities.

The Minister of National Insurance (Mr. Osbert Peake)

No, Sir. I see no reason for suggesting any change in the existing practice under which retirement pensions are taken fully into account on an application for supplementary assistance and the first £1 of a disability pension is disregarded.

Mr. Gower

Does the Minister appreciate that if, for example, an ex-Service man's pension is increased because it is considered that his physical condition merits a larger pension it must then appear a very great injustice if assistance is immediately reduced by a similar compensating amount?

Mr. Peake

As my hon. Friend knows, there is a highly elaborate system of disregards which put certain persons and certain classes of person in a more favourable position in the matter of National Assistance, and I think it would be very serious to attempt to embark on piecemeal alterations.