§ 2. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will arrange to have paid to every old-age pensioner at Christmas week a bonus in the form of an extra week's pension in order, for that week, to mitigate the hardships old-age pensioners suffer from the present high cost of living.
§ 13. Mr. Shurmerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will consider giving a bonus of £1 to old-age pensioners for Christmas to enable them to buy a little of the season's luxuries.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWhile I understand and sympathise with the feeling which prompts these Questions, I think the hon. Members will, on reflection, appreciate that such payments would not be appropriate to a compulsory contributory insurance scheme, and it is no doubt for that reason that the National Insurance Acts give no authority for the making of such payments.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister realise—as I am sure he does—that there are exceptional reasons why some extenuation should be granted to old-age pensioners? 3 One reason is that their incomes have not been equated to the high cost of living as have the incomes of other classes in the community and another reason is that they have less time than anyone else in which to enjoy their incomes.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate that the very large number of retirement pensioners in our present universal scheme covers some people who are in need and some who are very far from being in need. I think that indicates that, whatever other help is forthcoming at Christmas time, the National Insurance scheme, covering inevitably 4½ million pensioners, is not really the proper method.
§ Mr. ShurmerWhatever the Minister might think that the National Insurance Acts are doing, is he not aware—and he must be aware—that all the year round these old-age pensioners are merely existing and not living, and that for many of them this will be their last Christmas on earth? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that they are entitled to a little luxury during the Christmas season, and could he not find something for these pensioners who, in the past, have brought about many of the privileges which the younger people enjoy today?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am glad to say that local and voluntary effort does a great deal at Christmas time to help those of these people who are in need. I would say to the House, with respect, that the view which has been universally taken by my predecessors, that the National Insurance scheme itself is not the proper method of doing what most of us would like to see and hope will be done for these people at Christmas time, is right.
§ 3. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much it would cost to pay to every old-age pensioner a bonus of £1 a week in Christmas week.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAbout £5 million.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not the Minister think that £5 million would be better spent in this way than on wildcat warlike schemes which merely increase the national debt, and will the right hon. Gentleman approach his colleagues in the Government with a view to seeing that this £5 million is spent in this very desirable way?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have said what I have to say on the use of the National Insurance Scheme for this purpose. I am bound to add that I do not think the hon. and learned Gentleman's attempt to drag in extraneous matters helps very much.
10. Mrs. Jegerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what action he proposes to take to safeguard the welfare of pensioners who will be subjected to rent increases as a result of the Government's proposals.
20. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what action he proposes to take to assist old-age pensioners, widows, and others, in view of the increase in prices of essential foods.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would refer the hon. Members to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle) and to other hon. Members on 3rd December.