HC Deb 04 July 1955 vol 543 cc747-8
6. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in view of the difficulties experienced by discharged prisoners in obtaining employment on discharge owing to the fact that their cards are unstamped, he will make arrangements to enable prisoners to maintain their contributions and have their cards stamped while serving a prison sentence.

Mr. Peake

I have drawn the attention of the National Insurance Advisory Committee to the matter in conjunction with their general review of the contribution conditions for National Insurance benefits.

Mr. Fletcher

Does not the Minister recall that his Parliamentary Secretary told me that six months ago? Does he not think it is time that something was done, because it is difficult enough to deal with the rehabilitation of these discharged prisoners and this is an additional and most regrettable handicap for a person who, on discharge, wants to earn an honest living but finds himself under a handicap because of an administrative rule? Cannot the Minister do something about it?

Mr. Peake

It is really something rather more than an administrative rule. Blank spaces on National Insurance cards are due most commonly to periods of sickness or exemption from National Insurance due to low income. Anybody is free at any time, if they are so pleased and can afford it, to place class 3 stamps on their cards at non-employed rates.

Mr. Isaacs

Is it too much to ask the Government that the State itself might be responsible for providing these stamps for a discharged prisoner, because, otherwise, they would only be carrying on the punishment of imprisonment beyond the time when the man comes out of prison? If he goes to an employer, the fact that he has no stamps on his card discloses that he has been in prison. Surely it would not cost much for the State to put these stamps on the cards.

Mr. Peake

This matter has been before the National Insurance Advisory Committee, and I should be very unwise to express any opinion on that proposal.

Mr. Isaacs

Will the right hon. Gentleman put the suggestion to the Committee?