HC Deb 25 February 1957 vol 565 cc855-7
48. Mr. Hannan

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that retirement pensioners whose qualifying birthday falls on the day subsequent to the usual payment day are denied encashment of their order until the following week; and whether he will make arrangement for such pensioners on their birthday.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Retirement pension is a weekly benefit, and a person becoming entitled to it receives payment weekly in advance from the pension pay day following retirement. No adjustment is made for odd days when pension begins, and I am not satisfied that such arrangements would be desirable or practicable.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the answer to the first part of the Question contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my answers to similar Questions on 18th February.

Mr. Jennings

In view of these statistics, which I hope to get soon, and in view of the changes in the pattern of living in these post-war years, does not my right hon. Friend agree that the time is now opportune for a complete reappraisal of the entire retirement pensions system?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I certainly would not like to deal with that in reply to a supplementary question, but it may be that there will be an opportunity to discuss these matters a little later on today.

Following are the figures:

Mr. Hannan

Does not the Minister agree that his answer is contrary to the statement in Pensions Leaflet No. 15, one sentence of which I will quote, as follows— Orders can be cashed weekly in advance. Is he aware that the case to which I am referring is that of an old-age pensioner who attained the age of 65 on the day after and who is, therefore, paid in arrears? Cannot the Minister overcome this difficulty, if it arises for administrative reasons? Surely, the old-age pensioners should not be penalised because of that?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

If the hon. Gentleman will study my answer, he will see that, in using the language of the leaflet, I pointed out that pensions were paid weekly in advance from the regular pay day, which, since the beginning of the system, has always been found to be the only practical method of doing it.