HC Deb 27 June 1960 vol 625 cc939-40
3. Mr. Houghton

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he expects to complete his review of the rates and amounts of benefit required by Section 40 of the National Insurance Act, 1946, following the Second Quinquennial Report of the Government Actuary.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I hope to lay the formal report required by Section 40 later this week.

Mr. Houghton

Is the Minister aware that time is getting on? By the time we come back from the Summer Recess a year will have gone by since the election. The whole country is expecting Her Majesty's Government to honour the pledges given at that time. Moreover, is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the introduction of the new graduated scheme, with changes in contributions next April? Is there any hope that we will have a Bill to do something about this in the autumn, in advance of the introduction of the elaborate paraphernalia for the new graduated scheme?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I cannot see how at least six of those supplementary questions arise out of my original Answer. The Question relates simply to the formal report, which, now that pension rights are kept regularly under review, has lost a good deal of the significance it had.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Both in his original Answer and in his answer to my hon. Friend's supplementary question, the Minister said that he proposed to lay his formal report. Will he bear in mind that when the first report of his predecessors was issued there was general disappointment in the House because the Minister made it so short and formal that he did not fulfil the obligations placed upon him? Will he make sure that this one will meet the requirements of the Section?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The right hon. Gentleman probably knows better than anybody else what was intended by the Section. As I said in my earlier Answer, I shall discharage my statutory duty, as I am bound to do, of making a report, although in the changed circumstances of today this has lost a great deal of its former significance.

Mr. Griffiths

Will the Minister bear in mind that he is asked by the Section to report in the light of changed circumstances. That is why we expect a good report this time.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I hope that the right hon. Gentleman has not flattered my English prose excessively. But I have studied Section 40.

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