§ 33. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what figure the Industrial Injuries Benefit of 67s. 6d. and the Married Retirement Pension of 65s. would require to be raised to compensate for the rise in the cost of living since these sums were first fixed in December, 1954.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterOn the basis of the Retail Prices Index, to 72s. 11d. and to 70s. 3d., respectively.
§ Mr. McKayDoes the Minister realise that that means a serious drop since the last increase was made for millions of poor people living in the greatest poverty? Can he not say, taking all these things into consideration, that the time has now arrived when something should be done to help these poor old pensioners who are living in such dire circumstances.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. Member will, of course, be aware of the fact that the figures turn entirely on the year selected as a base for the calculations. As he probably knows, quite different results can be obtained if other years, such as 1950 or 1951, are taken.