§ 43. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the present relation between present rates of old-age pensions, national assistance allowances and the cost of living in Aberdeen in terms of cash and percentages, respectively.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (Miss Patricia Hornsby- Smith)No, Sir.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister mean by that inaudible reply that she does not realise that the present high cost of living is quite disproportionate to the amount which the pensioners receive? Will she look into the matter further with a view to doing justice to this deserving class?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe hon. and learned Member's supplementary question hardly bears on the Question, but, thanks to the Government's policy in maintaining the steadiness of prices, the Retail Price Index stood in March this year at 110, exactly the same as when special increases were made in pensions and benefits in 1958.