§ 50. Dame Irene Wardasked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that, in formulating a policy to assist those living on small fixed incomes, he will call for proposals from the Treasury, the 777 Minister of Defence, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Minister of Labour; and when he hopes to present composite proposals.
§ The Prime MinisterI already have available advice from these and other Ministers in the formulation of Government policy. The greatest assistance to those living on small fixed incomes would come from the firm support of the Government's measures for dealing with inflation.
§ Dame Irene WardIs my right hon. Friend aware that he gave a very specific pledge at Brighton? Is he aware that that pledge was taken to mean that he would be putting forward proposals? I am asking him today, as a suitable day now that a new Session has started, if he will kindly inform me when he proposes putting forward the proposals which he indicated that he would put forward. Nothing else will suit.
§ The Prime MinisterMuch as I should like to discuss this matter with my hon. Friend, I think that it would be a mistake for me to keep any declaration entirely to her. I would point out, however, that the financial position of pensioners is to be dealt with, I believe, tomorrow, and that in past years very important measures have been taken in successive Budgets, all of which tend to reduce the taxation upon small incomes.
§ Mr. WoodburnIf this new policy is going to cure inflation, will the Prime Minister tell us whether it has been the action of the policy of the last six years that has caused it?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The right hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that although rewards, by way of wages and salaries, have kept well above the rise of prices, there is the problem of the pensioner and the fixed income, and it is for that reason that we are now trying to see whether, by a united effort, we cannot hold the present position.
§ Dame Irene WardBrighton was after the Budget.