§ 30. Dr. Kingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has given to representations made to him by the Public Service Pensioners' Council asking for a new Pensions Increase Act to ameliorate the position of public service pensioners.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydLast month, a deputation from the Public Service Pensioners Council asked for an interview with my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, since they were anxious that I should take their views into account before I prepared my Budget Statement. My hon. Friend saw the deputation on 31st January; while drawing their attention to the Government's publicly expressed views about the introduction of a further Pensions Increase measure, he told them that he would convey their representations to me. This he has done.
§ Dr. KingIs the Chancellor aware that many of the oldest of those pensioners have very meagre pensions, indeed; that they do not qualify for the basic national pension that is to be increased, and that they appreciate what the Government have done in previous Pensions Increase Acts but think that the Chancellor ought to do something to bring them more into line with pensioners who retire today?