§ 55. Mr. Collinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange to continue the issue of tobacco token books 605 to retirement pensioners, who, after retiring, return to employment and surrender their pension books.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. R. Maudling)No, Sir. The Tobacco Duty (Relief for Pensioners) Regulations, 1947, made by the previous Administration confines the relief to pensioners who are drawing pensions by means of a pension order book; and I am afraid that limitation is essential to the administration of the scheme.
§ Mr. CollinsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the concession asked for in the question would cost very little and would be a help and encouragement to people who, for financial or other reasons, find it necessary after retiring to return to full employment? Such people save the State a lot of money. Cannot he find means of granting this small concession?
§ Mr. MaudlingI believe I am right in saying that successive Governments have tried to extend the concession beyond the pension order book range but have found it impossible to do so, in particular because it is difficult to treat a man who has retired and has gone back to work differently from a man who has retired and not gone back to work.