HC Deb 28 April 1955 vol 540 cc1070-2
61. Mr. de Freitas

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has considered a letter from the Lincoln Branch of the British Legion pointing out that a widow who is to have her widow's pension increased by 3s. 6d. per week will, at the same time, have her dependant's pension reduced from 11s. to 7s. 6d., and that since the Lincoln Branch of the British Legion was told that the increase in pensions was to be given to improve the standard of living it therefore feels it has been misled; and what reply he has made.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (Brigadier J. G. Smyth)

I have been unable to trace the case of the widow referred to in the letter in question. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars I will gladly look into it.

Mr. de Freitas

May other hon. Members who have had similar letters from branches of the British Legion also send them to the hon. and gallant Member, and will he undertake to reply to them very soon?

Brigadier Smyth

I will certainly look into any individual case. I did give an answer to a general question to several hon. Members in the House on Monday last.

Mr. H. Morrison

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that since my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) raised the question in the House earlier in the week, a number of us have received exactly similar letters? Is he further aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was evidently somewhat shocked by these revelations? Are we not to expect a rather more responsible and serious reply about this matter than that which we have had this afternoon?

Brigadier Smyth

We ought to realise that ever since 1922, with the agreement of all parties, these dependants' pensions have been on a needs basis and they have always been reviewed from time to time and adjusted in accordance with changing financial conditions, so that there is no change at all in the procedure or the principle. However, I will guarantee that I will certainly and most gladly look into any cases where it is thought that the adjustment or the review operates harshly.

Mr. Isaacs

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in many of these cases there has been no inquiry at all? Is he further aware that a case has been brought to my notice where a mother had a pension of £1 a week; she and her husband now enjoy an increase in old-age pension of 7s. 6d. a week each, and the other pension is now cut down to 5s.? In other words, the Government give the couple 7s. 6d. each with one hand and take 15s. away with the other. There is no inquiry into their needs. If this increase in pension was given to everybody because of need, why take it away now?

Brigadier Smyth

As I have said, all these cases have been reviewed. They have been very carefully looked into. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] I can only say that if there are any individual cases where hardship appears to have arisen in the adjustment, I shall be most ready to look into them.