§ 23. Mr. Gourlayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the time-lag between the announcement of pension increases and the appointed day in respect of each of the last three increases.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonAbout 21 weeks, 12 weeks and 22 weeks respectively.
§ Mr. GourlayIn view of the considerable delay which takes place between the announcement and the implementation of pension increases, and particularly at this time when we have un- 924 warranted hardship among old-age pensioners, would not the Minister consider an immediate announcement of increases in old-age pensions, rather than wait so that he can make an increase in pensions as a bribe before the General Election?
§ Mr. MacphersonI shall consider the interests of beneficiaries and contributors and of the economy as a whole in judging the right time for making any proposals.
§ Mr. RossIn view of the fact that it may be four months after the announcement before any increases are paid; that we are right into winter and that the cost of living is unlikely to come down, will the Minister make an announcement quickly about this?
§ 24. Mr. Gourlayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by how much the pension of a married retired pensioner would have to be raised to take account of the rise in the index of retail prices between the date of announcement of the last pension increase and 19th June, 1962.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonBy 7s. 5d. jointly.
§ Mr. GourlayIs the Minister aware that between the announcement of the previous increase and 19th June, 1962, we have had an increase of about 10 per cent. in the cost of living Since then, the cost of coal has increased considerably and in these particularly cold days pensioners obviously require two bags of coal per week, which alone costs them over 20s.? Does not this in itself justify an immediate increase in pensions?
§ Mr. MacphersonAll these are matters which we take into account in the general review.