§ 31. Mr. Allaunasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now take steps to allow men and women of retirement age to earn up to £5 a week in wages without any loss of pension.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, West (Sir I. Clark Hutchison) on 11th November.
§ Mr. AllaunWhy should a pensioner be penalised for working if he is able and wishes to do so? Are not the Government themselves guilty of a restrictive 18 practice? Would it not benefit the individual and the nation if the earnings rule were altered, particularly in view of rising prices and wages, so that this situation would not recur in future?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe limits were, of course, raised as recently as 30th July, 1956, and the position of the pensioner who desires to go back to full-time work has been facilitated by the fact that last year the House approved the proposal which makes de-retirement and return to work with resumption of earning of increments possible.