HC Deb 20 February 1957 vol 565 c402
Mr. T. Brown

I beg to ask leave to present a petition signed by 133,000 people over the age of 21 years who reside in the United Kingdom, which points out the urgent necessity for improving the basic pension payable to old-age pensioners. The prayer of the Petition is as follows: Wherefore your petitioners pray that legislation should be passed forthwith for the relief of old-age pensioners and those who may hereafter become entitled to old-age pensions, by raising the basic rate of the old-age pension to the extent necessary to meet the essential amenities of life. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc. Under Standing Order No. 92, I ask the learned Clerk of the House to read the Petition in its entirety.

The CLERK OF THE HOUSE read the Petition, which was as follows: To The Honourable The Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.

THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED OLD-AGE PENSIONERS AND OTHERS IN GREAT BRITAIN. Sheweth:

  1. 1. Those sections of the community who are in receipt of old-age pensions are suffering great hardship on acount of the continued increase in the cost of living;
  2. 2. The basic rate of the old-age pension of £2 per week for a single person and £3 5s. to a married couple is totally insufficient for the purchase of the barest necessities of life;
  3. 3. Most wage or salary earning sections of the community have received increases in rates of wages or salary to offset the rise in the cost of living;
  4. 4. Old-age pensioners' health will improve if given better health service, namely, free prescriptions and more hospital accommodation for their welfare.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that legislation should be passed forthwith for the relief of old-age pensioners and those who may hereafter become entitled to old-age pensions, by raising the basic rate of the old-age pension to the extent necessary to meet the essential amenities of life. And, your Petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.,

To lie upon the Table.