§ 7. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the percentage increase given to a married couple when the National Assistance rates were raised on 18th November, 1955.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe current scale came into effect on 23rd January, 1956. For a married couple it provided an increase of 6.3 per cent. over the previous rate.
§ Mr. McKayIs the Minister aware that the cost of living has gone up by 9 per cent. since he gave the last increase to pensioners? Is it not time, therefore, to raise the aged people's pensions?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAs far as I understood the hon. Member's supplementary question, it related to pensioners. The Question relates to Assistance payments. As far as they are concerned, the figure I gave was of an increase of 6.3 per cent., since when the cost of living has moved by 2 per cent.