§ 12. Mr. Bellengerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will now review the means test for non-contributory old-age pensions and blind pensions.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo, Sir. The non-contributory old-age pension is an obsolescent provision administered by the National Assistance Board who are able to supplement it by way of assistance. Blind pensions are also administered by the Board, and can be supplemented at the special higher scale of assistance provided for blind persons.
§ Mr. BellengerAm I right in assuming that these Regulations have not been revised since 1936, and in view of what has been done for other classes of old-age pensioners, would not it be appropriate to revise these exemptions upwards rather than throw these pensioners on to the National Assistance Board?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo. I think the right hon. Gentleman by a slip of the tongue said 1936 when he meant 1946—
§ Mr. BellengerYes.
§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter—but it has been the policy of successive Governments that this obsolescent pension should not be altered at the time other pensions are altered. As to throwing the pensioners 10 on to the National Assistance Board, the right hon. Gentleman will be aware that as these pensions are administered by the Board there is no change or any difference made for the persons concerned if their pensions have to be supplemented by the same body as that from which they receive their pensions.