§ 27. Dr. Kingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the rise in the cost of living, he will introduce legislation to increase the pensions of veteran retired teachers.
§ Mr. SimonNo, Sir. There are no grounds for giving retired teachers special treatment in this respect.
§ Dr. KingIs the Financial Secretary aware that from figures the Minister of Education has given me it is clear that a teacher who retired ten years ago is 337 getting about three-fifths of the pension which a teacher doing comparable work today may expect, and that those who retired much earlier suffer an even greater disparity between their pension and the present one? While this Question has to do with teachers, the case for all retired pensioners is on all fours with that of the teachers. Therefore, will the Financial Secretary give serious consideration to the bringing in of legislation to step up the pensions of veteran pensioners?
§ Mr. SimonAs to the question of pensioners generally, I can, with respect, only refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which was given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) on 19th November to the right hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. Woodburn), but I would remind the hon. Gentleman that many public service pensioners will benefit from the tax reliefs for old people which have been announced in my right hon. Friend's Budget proposals.