§ 10. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he now has any new proposals to make regarding sections of the community living on fixed incomes; and in particular on the position of retired Service officers.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have the interests of these sections of the community at 1028 heart, but I have no special statement to make in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Captain PilkingtonCan my right hon. Friend say how much it would cost to equalise the pre-1950 pensions with the present rates? Does not he think that, in fairness to a body of men who risked life and limb for the State, this equalisation should be carried out as early as possible?
§ Mr. ButlerI have not got the figures, but I will find them for my hon. and gallant Friend. Otherwise, for the statement of Government policy in this matter, he had better refer to Command Paper 9092. I would draw his attention particularly to paragraphs 36 and 44, which set out the Government's attitude in this matter.
§ Dr. KingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that between the wars retired officers had their pensions reduced when the cost of living went down? Their case today is that they have never had them raised adequately to meet the rise in the cost of living.
§ Mr. ButlerThere are many complexities in this subject. That is why it is set out in the very comprehensive White Paper. I am aware of the adjustments that have taken place.
Miss WardWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that at Margate last year the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, speaking on behalf of the Government, said that attention would be given to the small income groups? Will he bear in mind that I am still waiting for the implementation of the pledge given on that occasion, and that I do not want to have to wait much longer.
§ Mr. ButlerI will study my hon. Friend's interpretation of the statement made by my right hon. Friend.