HC Deb 04 June 1956 vol 553 cc687-8
10. Sir F. Medlicott

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now raise the basic pension for totally disabled ex-Service men to 90s. a week.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I would refer my hon. Friend to the second part of the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 14th May, and I am sending him a copy of the letter to which I referred in that reply.

Sir F. Medlicott

Can my right hon. Friend say why it is that no Government since the war seems sufficiently to have taken into account that this is a diminishing liability which will be extinguished altogether on the death of the last survivor of the last war? As these men have given so much, surely we ought not to begrudge them so little.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As I am sure my hon. Friend will know, the increase in the basic rate of war disability pension made last year was the biggest ever made in the history of war pensions.

Mr. Shinwell

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he regards 90s. per week as too much for a man who is totally disabled and has rendered service in previous wars? If he does not, why does he not do something about it?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The right hon. Gentleman, of course, will be well aware that in cases of total disability a number of other allowances are applicable, which, I think, somewhat alter the picture he has in mind.

Mr. Shinwell

How is it that the right hon. Gentleman is unable to convince the British Legion about that? Why is it that the British Legion constantly agitates for an improvement in the conditions of totally disabled men? In particular, has he taken into account the views of his hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser)?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I always pay great attention to the views of my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale. As regards the British Legion, it is very human and very natural that it should wish to press for further assistance for those whom it represents, and I am sure the whole House would have sympathy with that. But if the right hon. Gentleman asks why I have failed to persuade the British Legion of the appropriateness of our present measures, it must be because I lack the right hon. Gentleman's persuasive tongue.