Post-War Credits

HC Deb 15 March 1960 vol 619 c1113

38. Mr. Dodds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is yet in a position to announce details of a further repayment of post-war credits.

50. Mr. Prentice

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has completed his consideration of the repayment of post-war credits to the long-term sick; and whether he will now increase the categories of people to whom post-war credits may be repaid so as to include cases of long-term sickness and other cases of hardship.

Mr. Amory

I have this matter under examination, but I am not yet able to make a statement.

Mr. Dodds

This is not good enough. Does not the Chancellor agree that during the Budget last year he held out hopes of the possibility of extending the payment of post-war credits in the autumn? Since I am not one of those people who believe that the Chancellor would try for an election advantage on the eve of an election, would he tell us what went wrong so that he was not able to extend payment in the autumn?

Mr. Amory

I do not think I specifically said "in the autumn". If I did, perhaps the hon. Member will send me the words. I said that I hoped to extend the categories somewhat, and that is my hope; but at this time of year there are certain administrative difficulties to which I must have regard.