§ 21. Mr. Grimondasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will amend the earnings rule so as to allow pensioners to earn £104 per annum without deduction as an alternative to £2 per week.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI understand that this suggestion is, with others, under consideration by the National Insurance Advisory Committee in connection with their current review of the earnings limits. I must await their Report.
§ Mr. GrimondI am grateful for that answer, but may I ask the right hon. 814 Gentleman to bear in mind that this is a matter of importance to some pensioners who would find it of great assistance if this reform could be introduced?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not wish to anticipate the Committee's report, but the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that a spreading of the period would work to the disadvantage of certain classes of these pensioners where there are fairly large intermittent earnings, and therefore this is just the sort of matter which one wants the Committee, with the evidence before it, to consider.
§ Mr. ChetwyndCan the right hon. Gentleman say what progress is being made with the report and when he expects to receive it?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have nothing to add to what was said by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary during a recent debate when she indicated that we hoped for it in the late spring.