§ 35. Mr. Gowerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for old-age pensioners who are non-smokers to receive some token which will entitle them to some compensatory benefit from public funds similar to that given to pensioners who are smokers by partial relief from Tobacco Duty.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. GowerWould my right hon. Friend agree that it is only fair that pensioners who are non-smokers should have some form of token which would entitle them to buy sweets or chocolates in place of the tobacco and cigarettes which pensioners who are smokers may obtain?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not know whether my hon. Friend is aware that this scheme was introduced so as to secure that old-age pensioners who were smokers did not suffer from the sharp increase in the Tobacco Duty made in 1947. Similar considerations do not apply to the articles which he mentioned.