HC Deb 12 July 1955 vol 543 c1730
30. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake to introduce within the present Session a new Pensions (Increase) Bill to cover the known needs of Service and Civil Service pensioners.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I can say no more than that this matter is being kept under review.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

If my right hon. Friend cannot give this undertaking, will he remember that on 4th May he gave an undertaking that this matter would be kept sympathetically and understandingly under review? When does he expect the review to be completed?

Mr. Butler

When all our information is available. I do not underestimate the importance of this matter, and that is why I did not give my hon. and gallant Friend a wholly negative answer.

Mr. Callaghan

As the wages index has gone up steadily, as the cost of living is going up, and as we are still living in a period of creeping inflation, what more evidence is the Chancellor waiting for to deal with these people, to whom we have a special obligation? They are really suffering a squeeze in a period like this.

Mr. Butler

I appreciate the difficulties of the classes of people to which the hon. Gentleman refers, although I do not accept all his statements, but it is not so much a question that the information on this matter is lacking as the fact that I have to be quite sure that in examining it I am fair to all the classes concerned.