§ 6. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that, since decontrol of meat, prices have risen to such a high degree as to make choice cuts of meat beyond the purchasing power of old-age pensioners; and whether he will, therefore, increase old-age pensions to compensate them for this loss in the purchasing value of their pensions.
§ Mr. LewisThat is the reply which I expected. The right hon. Gentleman seems quite oblivious of the sufferings of old-age pensioners, particularly with regard to the rapid and excessive rise in the price of meat. Is he aware that this rise means that old-age pensioners cannot afford to buy any decent cuts of meat? Surely the right hon. Gentleman could do something for these old people before the further increases in prices which are expected later this year.
§ 7. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance on what dates since 1947 increases have been made in the basic rate of pensions paid to old-age pensioners; on what dates since 1947 increases have been made in the maximum scales of National Assistance; and to what extent his Department are making known to retirement pensioners the facilities and grants provided by the National Assistance Board.
§ Mr. PeakeThe basic rate of retirement pension was increased for certain pensioners in September, 1951. In September, 1952, an increase was made for all retirement pensioners. The scales of assistance were increased in July, 1948, when the National Assistance scheme was introduced, and again in June, 1950, September, 1951, and June, 1952.
As regards the last part of the Question, the pension order book gives information about National Assistance and explanatory leaflets and application forms are readily available at local offices of my Ministry, in post offices and elsewhere.
§ Mr. GowerDoes my right hon. Friend think that the information in the first part of the answer is generally known to the public, including the editors of most newspapers? Could he also tell us in what circumstances his officers are authorised to advise pensioners to apply to the National Assistance Board if it is apparent that their means would entitle them to assistance?
§ Mr. PeakeI can only say that anybody who appears to be entitled to assistance is advised to apply for it. The trouble is much more reluctance to apply for assistance than ignorance of the facilities which exist.
§ Mr. W. R. WilliamsIn view of the obvious reluctance on the part of a large number of very deserving old-age pensioners to apply for assistance from the National Assistance Board, will the right hon. Gentleman consider, during the Recess, whether a change in title from National Assistance Board to something which is less suggestive of assistance might be worth while, so as to remove from these old people doubts about making an application?
§ Mr. PeakeNo, Sir. As I have said before, it would be a mistake to forfeit the large amount of good will which has been built up by the National Assistance Board.
§ 19 and 20. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) the number of old-age pensioners in receipt of supplementation from the National Assistance Board in June, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953 and 1954, respectively;
(2) the average weekly rate of supplementation received by old-age pensioners during the years 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954, respectively.
§ 15 and 16. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) the number of old-age pensioners in Wales, and the number in receipt of supplementation from the National Assistance Board for July, 1948, and the month of June in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954;
(2) the average weekly rate of supplementation to old-age pensioners in Wales for the years 1948 to 1953 inclusive, and the latest convenient week in 1954.
§ 22 and 23. Mr. Rossasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) the number of retirement pensioners in Scotland receiving a supplementary allowance from the National Assistance Board in June, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954, respectively;
(2) the average weekly rate of supplementation received from the National Assistance Board by retirement pensioners during the years 1948 to 1954, inclusive.
§ Mr. PeakeAs the replies contain a number of figures, I am arranging to circulate them in a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. RossOn a point of order. Is it right that the Minister should say he will answer en bloc all Questions that entail a column of figures when those Questions deal with different subjects? The Questions asked by my hon. Friends deal with England and Wales, but my Question deals specifically with Scotland and an entirely different set of figures. I do not think it is fair for the Minister to give an answer of that kind.
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not think that that is a point of order. The Minister said that he would publish a table of figures which included the answer to the Question of the hon. Member and I see nothing wrong with that.
| NATIONAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS | |||||||||||
| — | Number in Payment (thousands) | Average Weekly Rate | |||||||||
| Great Britain | Scotland | Wales | Great Britain | Wales | |||||||
| To Old-Age Pensioner Households | To Retirement Pensioner Households | To Old-Age Pensioner Households | Old-Age Pensioner Households | Retirement Pensioner Households | Old-Age Pensioner Households | ||||||
| 1948 | … | … | 510 | 28 | 35 | Not available | |||||
| 1949 | … | … | 621 | 38 | 45 | ||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | ||||||
| 1950 | … | … | 700 | 45 | 51 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
| 1951 | … | … | 831 | 55 | 59 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| 1952 | … | … | 927 | 61 | 67 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 14 | 5 |
| 1953 | … | … | 1,051 | 70 | 74 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 9 |
| 1954 | … | … | 1,131 | 77 | 78 | Not yet available | |||||
| Note | |||||||||||
| (1) "Old-Age Pensioner" includes retirement pensioner and non-contributory old age pensioner | |||||||||||
| (2) The number national assistance grants in payment is for a date in July, 1948, and for a date in June in later years. | |||||||||||
| (3) The average weekly rate of National Assistance grant is an estimate based on a sample taken in the Autumn of each year | |||||||||||
| (4) The number of old-age pensioners in wales in each year was about 250,000. |
§ 9 and 10. Mr. Keenanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how many old-age pensioners in Liverpool are receiving supplementary grants from the National Assistance Board to the latest date;
(2) how many old-age pensioners in Liverpool are receiving contributory pensions and how many are receiving noncontributory pensions to the latest date.
§ Mr. PeakeThe number of retirement pensioners in Liverpool is not known. The National Assistance Board tell me that many of their Liverpool offices cover areas outside the city. They estimate, however, that at the end of June there were in the city about 3,650 non-contributory pensioners and about 18,000 cases in which assistance was supplementing retirement or non-contributory pensions. Some of the latter include the needs of more than one pensioner.
§ Mr. KeenanIs the Minister aware that the first part of the answer indicates that the National Assistance Board offices
§ Mr. SpeakerThat may be so, but the answer may include the figures for which the hon. Member asked.
§ Following are the figures:
§ must be fewer in number than they ought to be if they have to cover areas greater than that of Liverpool? Is he aware that it is surprising that he cannot give fuller information and that that indicates that the concern of National Assistance officers is such that they are not aware of the picture of the poverty of old-age pensioners which is being constantly brought to the notice of the Department in this House?
§ Mr. PeakeThe hon. Member will recognise that the records of retirement pensioners are kept centrally at Newcastle and do not take account of municipal or constituency boundaries. There are four National Assistance offices inside the city of Liverpool and five offices outside it which deal with cases partly from inside the city and partly from outside.
§ Mr. KeenanWill the Minister look at the matter again? Is he aware that these arrangements largely concern elderly people, that one office covers nearly two 11 constituencies and that considerable travelling distances are involved for those who have to attend at them?