§ 19. Mr. Elwyn Jonesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many blind persons are now in receipt of old-age pensions and National Assistance; and what would be the total annual cost of raising the scales of National Assistance for such persons by 10s. a week.
§ Mr. PeakeAt the end of September last, about 46,000 blind persons were receiving retirement or non-contributory old-age pensions supplemented by National Assistance. The cost of increasing by 10s. a week the Assistance rates for blind pensioners, which are already considerably higher than those for sighted persons, would be about £1,200,000 a year.
§ Mr. Elwyn JonesIs the Minister aware that, in spite of the scales, many people in this limited class are suffering considerable hardship? He now has the figures in regard to this particular class, so there is no need to wait for the report of the Actuary with regard to them. Cannot something be done for this class forthwith?
§ Mr. PeakeI must remind the hon. and learned Member that for these particular people the initiative does rest with the National Assistance Board, and when the Board increased the scales in 1952 they not only maintained the differential in favour of blind persons, which was then 15s., but increased it to 18s. a week.
§ 22. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what action is being taken to relieve the position and poverty in which many blind persons now find themselves, in view of the steady increase in the cost of living in recent years.
§ Mr. PeakeBlind persons who are in need can apply for Assistance, which, in their case, is assessed at special rates substantially above the normal rates.
§ Mr. FreemanIs it not a fact that a blind person is in a far worse plight than the old-age pensioner? Does the Minister, therefore, consider the additional 3s. adequate to meet the special needs of a blind person, in view of the fact that an old-age pensioner can sometimes earn a little extra for himself whereas a blind person can do practically nothing?
§ Mr. PeakeWe all sympathise very deeply with blind persons, but the hon. Member is mistaken if he thinks that they get only 3s. more than sighted persons. In fact, they get 18s. more from the Assistance Board.
§ Mrs. CorbetDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that, as long ago as the early days of the war, a certain local authority which then had the care of the blind under its aegis decided that 15s. a week in those days was a reasonable increase above the assistance which it paid to the other categories of people under its responsibility, and that since those days the change in prices and in the value of money has far oustripped the extra 3s. which the Minister now pretends is a reasonable amount?
§ Mr. PeakeThe hon. Lady perhaps overlooks the substantial increase in scales generally which was made in 1952, but I will, of course, convey her views to the National Assistance Board.