§ 4. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now take steps 4 to ameliorate the conditions of old-age pensioners by seeking powers to enable municipalities and county councils to give free transport for old-age pensioners to and from their homes to the places where they receive payment of their pensions.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo, Sir. As the hon. and learned Member is no doubt aware, any pensioner unable to visit a Post Office can nominate a friend or relative to cash his orders on his behalf.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not the Minister, of all Ministers, realise that he owes a special duty to the old-age pensioners, who are probably the poorest class in the community today and the best producers of yesterday? Having regard to the way in which the Government have discriminated in favour of the rich, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it a just and honest thing to grant old-age pensioners this small amelioration?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. and learned Gentleman knows very well that the record of Her Majesty's Government in their treatment of retirement pensioners is better than that of any previous Government in British history.