HC Deb 13 June 1955 vol 542 cc263-5
34. Mr. Wilkins

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retirement pensioners in receipt of supplementary pensions are, in each case, now worse off by 6d., 1s., 1s. 6d., and any higher sum per week after 25th April, than they were on 1st February, 1955.

Mr. Peake

None, so far as I am aware, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I shall be pleased to ask the National Assistance Board to look into it.

Mr. Wilkins

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer surprises me, that I have had brought to my notice numerous cases of pensioners who are worse off by at least 1s. a week, and that I am advised by those people whose duty it is to pay these benefits that the numbers of such cases possibly run into many thousands? Will the right hon. Gentleman have closer inquiries made into whether the suggestion or the inference in my Question is correct or not?

Mr. Peake

I have made inquiries into this matter. I find that about 87 per cent. of those receiving supplementation got the full amounts prescribed by the Board in February, that a very small number—I think 28,000—got something less than the full amounts because they were boarders receiving only pocket money from the Board, and a considerable number—that is the blind, the tuberculous and pensioners with children —got larger amounts than 2s. 6d. and 4s.

Mr. Wilkins

Surely this answer is quite unsatisfactory. It does not matter how many people are involved. If only a few people are receiving less than they were receiving on 1st February, surely the Minister should take steps to redress the balance?

Mr. Peake

If the hon. Member has had a case brought to his notice, I hope he will let me know about it so that I may make proper inquiries. There may be individual cases in which, for some particular reason, some discretionary allowance has been withdrawn, but if the hon. Member has a case in mind, perhaps he will let me know about it.

Mr. Gibson

Is the Minister aware that I myself have reported to his officers in my constituency the case of an old couple who actually had 4s. a week less after receiving the so-called increase in pensions, and that the reply I had—I imagine quite correctly—from his local officers was that that was strictly in accordance with the regulations? Will he not ask the Assistance Board to look at all the regulations and make sure that everybody who was intended to get an increase really gets what was intended by this House?

Mr. Peake

I do not think I can do more than invite any hon. Member who is concerned about any case to send the details to me.

35. Mr. Wilkins

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will issue instructions immediately to the National Assistance Board to raise scales in order that retirement pensioners may receive increases restoring their pensions to a value not less than as at 1st February, 1955.

Mr. Peake

No, Sir. Any question of revising the Assistance scales is, under Statute, a matter for the Board in the first instance; and increased scales were approved by this House as recently as last December.

Mr. Wilkins

Will the right hon. Gentleman not make representations to the Board to give consideration to an increase in the basic scales?

Mr. Peake

No, Sir. It would be quite improper for me to make representations to the Board. I would remind the hon. Gentleman that the Act embodying all this was passed by the Socialist Government in 1948.

Dr. Summerskill

Could not the Minister bring to the attention of the National Assistance Board the fact that there are 80,000 widows, 123,000 chronic sick and 800,000 old-age pensioners who have had their Assistance rates increased by only 2s. 6d.? Surely the right hon. Gentleman is in a position to bring this fact to the attention of the National Assistance Board and ask the Board to comment upon it? I am quite sure that the Chairman of the National Assistance Board would be courteous and would not reject the Minister's approach.

Mr. Peake

I would remind the right hon. Lady that until the recent increases in Assistance scales in February and in the insurance pensions last month, since 1946 the Assistance scales have risen on four occasions, and have risen by as much as 15s. for a single person, whereas the insurance pension has been raised only twice, and this by 6s. 6d.