§ 12. Mr. du Cannasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, with a view to facilitating the abolition of the retired pensioners tobacco token scheme, which discriminates unfairly as between smokers and non-smokers, he will now consider increasing the pensions of smokers and non-smokers alike by 2s. 6d. per week.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterRetirement pensions are National Insurance payments depending on contributions, and a change in this rate would involve wider considerations than that of the tobacco token scheme.
§ Mr. du CannIs my right hon. Friend not aware that this scheme is also unfair as between different classes of pensioner, and is he not further aware of the very substantial public demand at this time that this scheme should be reformed?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterQuestions about this scheme, as my hon. Friend will be 689 aware, are put to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer a fact which, as a former Financial Secretary, I have good reason to remember.
§ Mr. du CannOn a point of order. May I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker? I put a Question on this subject to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury a short time ago, and he has now referred me to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. SpeakerI should have to see the original Question before I could pass any judgment on that.
§ Mr. HaleIs the Minister aware that I have had a letter from one of my old-age pensioner constituents, saying that the increase of 3s. per 1b. on tobacco was passed on to old-age pensioners at the rate of £1 1s. 4d. per 1b. In those circumstances, would the right hon. Gentleman discuss with the Chancellor whether any steps should be taken, when extra taxation is put upon old-age pensioners, to see that it is not exploited?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterOf course, the general effect of any change on the cost of living is one which has to be taken into account; but as regards this particular change—on which I think the hon. Member has not quite got his figures right— the effect on the cost of living is comparatively small.