§ 35. Mr. T. Brownasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals he has received from the National Assistance Board following recent representations made by organisations on behalf of the old-age pensioners of this country.
§ 61. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what representations the National Assistance Board has now made in regard to the scale of allowances to old-age pensioners.
§ 62. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals he has now received from the National Assistance Board following the representations made by old-age pensioners' associations.
§ Mr. PeakeI presume that the hon. Members refer to the submission of draft regulations under subsection (1) of Section 6 of the National Assistance Act, 1948. I have not received any such draft regulations.
§ Mr. BrownAs the Minister is charged with the responsibility of seeing that the needs of these poor people are attended to, and as representations were made to the Board last week when we were promised that the views which we then expressed about the poverty and dire need of the old-age pensioners in receipt of National Assistance would be dealt with, has the right hon. Gentleman any information of a specific character to give to us today?
§ Mr. PeakeI see from the Press reports that the hon. Gentleman's deputation was received by the Chairman of the National Assistance Board last week, who promised to lay the views of the deputation before a forthcoming meeting of the Board. That meeting has not yet taken place, but I am quite confident that the Board has this matter under close and constant consideration.
§ Mr. DoddsWill the Minister bear in mind that over a million of the poorest old-age pensioners did not receive the increases of 7s. 6d. and 11s. given in April, but received only the miserable increases of 2s. 6d. and 4s.? In view of the recent increases in the cost of living—it went up by 2 per cent. last month, and goodness knows what is going to happen in the next few months—will the Minister not do something to avert tragedy before it is too late? It is no use the Minister saying that he has no obligation in the matter. He has an obligation.
§ Mr. PeakeI think that we can rely upon the Board to do in the future, as it has in the past, the right thing and to carry out the statutory duties laid upon it under Section 6 of the 1948 Act. I should like to endorse the suggestion made at Question time a week ago by the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Marquand) who 1041 suggested that we might leave this matter to the Board and not attempt by Question and answer to influence its decision.
§ Mr. HaleAs the right hon. Gentleman himself altered the constitution and the personnel of the Board, is it not really a little sanctimonious to say, "Leave it to the Board"? Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind on this extremely important matter that a real Minister of Social Insurance for the last three-quarters of an hour would have been putting to the House the figures and facts which have been put to him?
§ Mr. MarquandIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that what I commented on last week was his own use of figures which I was afraid might prejudice consideration by the Board? Is the Minister further aware that hon. Members have only one way of making their views known to the National Assistance Board, and that is by asking the Minister Questions about them, whatever he may say?
§ Mr. PeakeI am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for making himself perfectly clear. The National Assistance Board has this matter under close consideration at the present time, and I am afraid that I cannot add to my answer.