§ 18. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the fact that the geography of the constituencies in the north east of Scotland differs from the relevant area served by the National Insurance office and the National Assistance Board office, respectively, and that this involves difficulties in the computation and exposition of old-age pensions figures and National Assistance figures, if he will now take steps to make the respective areas co-incidental so that he and the House may be kept fully informed of the precise relation between old-age pensions and National Assistance in these areas.
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)No, Sir. To adopt the hon. and learned Gentleman's suggestion would involve lowering the standard of service given, and charging the taxpayer and the contributor to National Insurance more for it.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister remember that very recently he revealed this discord in his Department? Is he maintaining it? Does the present answer mean that he is unwilling to change from discord to concord in this very important matter? Is it not right that he and the public should be fully informed about these essential matters?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe only discord I noticed was from the hon. and learned Gentleman.