HC Deb 19 May 1953 vol 515 cc1846-8
2. Mr. Morley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider issuing post-war credits to widows and other people in straitened financial circumstances at an earlier age than 60 or 65.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I regret that I cannot accept this suggestion.

Mr. Morley

Is the Chancellor aware of the widespread expressions of dissatisfaction which have appeared in the national Press at his failure to give any concessions to the holders of post-war credits? Why should not these people have their own money back again when they are in sore financial straits?

Mr. Butler

This is much more difficult than the hon. Member imagines. It is a difficulty which was equally experienced by the previous Administration. The hon. Member ought not to lay at the door of one Administration the difficulty which this system has represented and, it seems to me, is likely to represent.

4. Mr. R. J. Taylor

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the repayment of post-war credits to persons who have been certified as incapable of further employment.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I regret that I cannot accept this suggestion.

Mr. Taylor

Is the Chancellor aware that the money belongs to the people, and that, when they are certified as unemployable, that is just the time when they need their burden lightened?

Mr. Butler

One of the great difficulties in regard to the problem of post-war credits is the picking out of individual categories. Each Question time one or other category is picked out. The claims of all are generally very understandable, and that makes it very difficult to pick out a certain category.

Sir W. Smithers

Is my right hon. Friend aware that only this morning I had a letter from a constituent who is in danger of losing his home for want of £50 which he has in post-war credits? If I send him the particulars, will he look into the case sympathetically?

Mr. Butler

I do not go so far as to say that I know what letters my hon. Friend has had from his constituents this morning, but I can assure him that the number of letters that I deal with from him is very considerable, although I am very glad to do it. I shall be glad to look into the case, for it is obviously a human one.

7. Mr. Gower

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make arrangements for the early repayment of the postwar credits of the late Mr. Miles, Sunny-bank, Eastbrook, Dinas Powis, Glamorgan, to his widow, Mrs. Alice Miles for reasons stated in correspondence from the hon. Member for Barry.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I regret that the post-war credits in this case are not yet payable and I have no power to authorise early repayment.

Mr. Gower

Does not the Minister appreciate that when a widow aged 56 is in difficult circumstances the retention of this money by the Treasury must appear singularly unjustifiable, and cannot the Chancellor more easily bear the loss of this money than people in such circumstances?

Mr. Butler

I dare say I can bear a good deal, but the difficulty about this case, which is a most unfortunate one, is that the law stands written and I am afraid I cannot alter that law.

8. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will form an estimate of the annual cost in interest and the anticipated annual encashment rate that would result from funding as a special issue of National Savings Certificates, the terms to be identical to those of the current issue of certificates, all outstanding post-war credits; and whether he will make a statement upon the practicability of such a scheme in present circumstances.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The annual cost in interest would depend upon the rate of encashment, which cannot be estimated with any accuracy. But I think there would certainly be heavy encashments of the Certificates and I do not, therefore, regard this scheme as a practical proposition.

Mr. Nabarro

In order to demonstrate to the nation the magnitude of this financial problem—and I am completely in sympathy with his view—would my right hon. Friend publish more details of the great difficulties of schemes of this kind which are being widely canvassed at the present time?

Mr. Butler

Perhaps my hon. Friend's Question and my reply may be used by the wide publicity machines available in this country.