§ 17. Mr. Snowasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will amend his Order concerning the repayment of postwar credits so as to permit Mr. Tomlinson, a disabled miner of Tamworth, to receive payment, bearing in mind that, although he is not a 100 per cent. disability pensioner, he does not qualify for National Assistance and would not be entitled to Unemployability Supplement.
§ Mr. SimonI regret to say that Mr. Tomlinson does not qualify for his postwar credit under existing Regulations. As my right hon. Friend and I explained in the debate on the Income Tax (Repayment of Post-War Credits) Bill on 15th April, the categories for the first time made eligible for repayment on the ground of hardship are the most that can be managed at the moment. My right hon. Friend regrets therefore that he cannot at present propose any extension of the Regulations.
§ Mr. SnowWhile it is obviously impossible to cater for all the permutations and combinations, are not post-war credits a useful instrument to cover this sort of hardship case? Here we have a very serious hardship, and I ask the Minister whether he will have another look at this problem.
§ Mr. SimonSuccessive Chancellors of the Exchequer refused to repay post-war credits on the ground of hardship, precisely because of the difficulty of drawing a line and the feeling of those who were on the wrong side of the line that they ought to have been included. The House in general, and right hon. Gentlemen opposite in particular, however, welcomed my right hon. Friend's courage in making a start with the solution to this problem, and undertook not to press him this year to extend the Regulations.