HC Deb 04 July 1956 vol 555 cc1493-4

Lords Amendment: In page 34, line 55, at end insert:

"The Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956.
Section eleven … In the definition of basic rate', the reference to the annual rate of the pension shall be construed as referring to so much only of the pension as would have been payable apart from the election."

11.56 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Dennis Vosper)

I beg to move, That this House cloth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

Mr. Speaker

This Amendment raises the question of Privilege, and if the House agrees with it I will cause a Special Entry to be made.

Mr. Vosper

This Amendment is really consequential to the enactment of the Pensions (Increase) Bill. Clause 10 of the Teachers (Superannuation) Bill makes it possible for a teacher to surrender his or her lump sum in return for an increase in pension. But it also makes clear, in conjunction with the First Schedule, that that increase shall not count under the Pensions (Increase) Acts then in force and those Acts listed in Schedule 1. This Amendment adds the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956, to the other Acts listed in the Schedule and makes clear that the basic pension is the pension before election to add the lump sum is made.

Mr. Michael Stewart (Fulham)

It is fitting that the last stage of this repulsive measure should be an Amendment designed to make quite certain that no teacher shall get a penny more than he might conceivably be entitled to. It is fully in accord with the spirit of the whole Bill. However, we must all accept the fact that, if the Bill were to pass with- out this Amendment, it would create all sorts of anomalies and give rise to repercussions elsewhere.

We know that we cannot hope now to rescue from its ill effects those who will be injured by this Bill. There are some teachers who will benefit from certain provisions of the Bill, and we might do them real injury if we were in any way to delay the passage of the Bill any further. We can say of this Bill, as was said of King Lear, … he hates him That would upon the rack of this rough world Stretch him out longer. Question put and agreed to.