HC Deb 28 November 1955 vol 546 cc1935-8
The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. Osbert Peake)

I will, with permission, Sir, make a short statement.

I have received from the National Assistance Board proposals for further increases in the current assistance rates which were raised to their present level on 7th February last. I have accepted these proposals, and have made draft regulations in the terms of a draft submitted to me by the Board. Copies, with an Explanatory Memorandum by the Board, will be available in the Vote Office forthwith.

Under these proposals the weekly rate for a single householder will be increased from 37s. 6d. to 40s., and for a married couple from 63s. to 67s., in both cases exclusive of rent, with appropriate increases in other rates. If, as I hope, these regulations are approved by Parliament at an early date, the higher rates will be paid from 23rd January next. On the basis of existing numbers, these increases are expected to cost about £12½ million in a full year.

Mr. Steele

We welcome the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has made this statement. It is quite clear that he has done so because of the pressure brought to bear upon him by this side of the House for many weeks, during which he has been very uncomfortable at Question Time. He should have introduced the regulations before. Would it not be possible to implement the increases before Christmas; and, for Scotland, the New Year? May I ask the Minister when we are likely to debate the matter? I understand that he will have to bring in the regulations and that the debate will then take place. Finally, may I add that we think that 2s. 6d. is quite unsatisfactory?

Mr. Peake

So far as the timing is concerned, I can only say that the regulations have to be examined by the Select Committee which deals with Statutory Orders and there then has to be an affirmative Resolution in both Houses of Parliament. I hope that we shall be able to get the regulations approved by the end of next week. Then the Assistance Board will be able to start on the very large task of altering 1,600,000 regular weekly order books.

Mr. Bowles

On a point of order. The right hon. Gentleman is wrong in what he has just stated about the Select Committee on Statutory Rules and Orders having to pass these regulations before they can possibly become operative. They can become operative whether they have been submitted to the Select Committee or not.

Mr. K. Thompson

Is my right hon. Friend aware—

Mr. Donnelly

Further to that point of order.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member for Walton (Mr. K. Thompson) rose before the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Donnelly). He should not interrupt him in the middle of his question.

Mr. Donnelly

On a point of order.

Mr. Speaker

Does the hon. Member for Pembroke suggest that the hon. Member for Walton is saying something which is out of order?

Mr. Donnelly

No, Sir. I am rising to a point of order with respect to what was said by my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Bowles).

Mr. Speaker

We shall return to that. Mr. Thompson.

Mr. Thompson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the announcement he has just made will give great satisfaction and will assure the country that we have the interests of the old people very much at heart; but will he allow me to say that we should welcome it if it were possible to have the increase in operation in time for Christmas because of the important psychological effect of the recognition of the needs of the old people?

Mr. Peake

I think it will be found, on examination, that the Board is proposing to carry through this operation in a shorter time than it has ever been carried through before.

Mr. Donnelly

May I go back to the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Bowles)? We have not had any answer on this point. May we have some guidance in the matter, because it is very relevant?

Mr. Speaker

I did not understand the hon. Member for Nuneaton to be asking a question. I thought that he was making a statement. So far as I know, without notice, I think that the hon. Member for Nuneaton is right.

Mr. Bowles

May I make it clear that one of the reasons given by the Minister for these regulations not coming into force before 23rd January was that they have to be passed by the Select Committee on Statutory Rules and Orders? That is not so, Sir.

Mr. Speaker

Though the hon. Member for Nuneaton is technically right, it is usual to get the approval of the Select Committee first before they are brought forward in the House in case the Committee has any comment to make on them.

Mr. Peake

Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, I may make it quite clear that the desirability or the necessity, if it be necessity, for the regulations to be examined by the Select Committee has nothing whatever to do with the date of operation selected by the Board in order to bring these payments into operation at the earliest possible moment.

Mr. Steele

The right hon. Gentleman is making great play with the difficulties associated with bringing these regulations into operation. May I say to him that my right hon. Friends on this side of the House are prepared to offer every facility to enable him to bring the regulations in now and pass them with dispatch?

Mr. Peake

I should make it clear that, much as we would welcome the cooperation of hon. Gentlemen opposite—and I hope that we shall have it—in passing the regulations speedily when the Motion comes before the House, the Assistance Board is, in fact, doing this job as fast as it is possible to do it. The 23rd January is the earliest date possible and it is the date actually named in the regulations. It would, therefore, be quite impossible to make the change at an earlier date without withdrawing the regulations and starting the whole procedure afresh.

Several Hon. Members rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. These regulations will have to be laid. We cannot debate the matter now.