HC Deb 26 January 1956 vol 548 cc357-8
50. Captain Corfield

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is yet in a position to make a statement, following his review of the Pensions (Increase) Acts.

52. Dr. King

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now able to state when he proposes to introduce legislation to improve the pensions of civil servants, local government staff, teachers, and others who retired on pensions based on smaller incomes than are at present paid, and who suffer hardship because of the rise in the cost of living.

Mr. H. Brooke

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for the New Forest (Col. Crosthwaite-Eyre), on 24th January.

Dr. King

Is the Minister aware that his right hon. Friend's reply gives great hope and great pleasure to thousands of very deserving people in the country, and will he ask his right hon. Friend whether he will make legislation bringing that pledge into effect a very high priority in the Government's business?

Mr. Brooke

I think that is a question for my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal.

Dame Irene Ward

Should I be right in taking it from my right hon. Friend—and I shall be delighted if he will give me a reply—that the whole policy towards the small fixed income groups is under consideration, particularly after the Prime Minister's speech at Bradford? Could he give some guidance from the Treasury to Ministers who are now undertaking Departmental Bills so that they will know how they ought to go forward on this very important matter?

Mr. Brooke

My hon. Friend and I had some discussion on this very important subject on the Motion for the Adjournment shortly before Christmas. The Questions which are on the Order Paper today concern exclusively those pensioners who derive their pensions through service to the State.

Mr. Younger

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether his answer covers the special disability under which people who formerly served in India may suffer?

Mr. Brooke

I should not like to give a detailed answer without notice, but I hope that the Measure will be forthcoming before long.

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