§ Q6. Dame Irene Wardasked the Prime Minister what study he has made of the report on The Economic Circumstances of Old People, by the Department of Applied Economics at Cambridge, a copy of which has been sent to him; when he intends to meet the various Ministers concerned, in order to co-ordinate their activities on this matter; and what remedial measures Her Majesty's Government propose to provide.
§ The Prime MinisterI have seen the Report to which my hon. Friend refers and so have those of my colleagues principally concerned. I have no doubt that they will give it consideration.
§ Dame Irene WardIn view of the importance of this Report, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that it will not be neglected in the same way as the Report of the Phillips Committee on a somewhat similar subject was neglected over the years? Further, will my right hon. Friend ask his private secretary to let me know when I can table a Question with a view to getting an answer telling me what is to happen?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend can table Questions at any moment. I must point out that this Report, although valuable, is based on 500 cases over the whole country. The investigation took place between July, 1959, and March, 1960, since which date both retirement 893 pensions and National Assistance have been increased.
§ Dame Irene WardWould not my right hon. Friend agree that that is a very silly, narrow little argument? Is he not aware that the whole country knows that there is a great deal in the Report which requires consideration and action? Will he be a leader and ensure that something is done about it?
§ The Prime MinisterAs the Report has been publicly raised in a Question, I think it is right to point out the very narrow nature of the people inquired into.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the Prime Minister aware that the Report suggests that very nearly one-third of the persons questioned were on a standard of living below that provided on National Assistance because they did not wish to apply for National Assistance? Will the Ministers concerned give their attention to that aspect of the matter? Is the Prime Minister also aware that even those on National Assistance were said to be on a standard of living very near indeed to the poverty level? Does not this suggest that the time has come for the National Assistance rate to be raised?
§ The Prime MinisterThe National Assistance rate has been raised twice since the period when this investigation was made. With regard to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, I am grateful to him for making the point about people not wishing to apply for National Assistance. This matter has often been mentioned from both sides of the House. I think that it is important that people should feel relieved from any unwillingness to apply for National Assistance, which is not the old poor law but the whole nation making its contribution to them. They have no reason to be ashamed of it.
§ Mr. W. YatesDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that there is now a case for combining the offices of the Ministry of Pensions with that of the National Assistance Board so that when a person draws an additional pension he does not have to demean himself and go off to another office in another part of the town.
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a question which has been raised before, I think. It is a much wider question, but I will certainly inquire into it.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsIs not the Prime Minister aware that there is deep concern, first, because a very large number of old people are still very reluctant, because of their pride, to go to the National Assistance Board, and secondly, because there are services other than financial services which they badly need but do not get? Does not this Report, limited though its scope may be, show that there is a need for the Government to undertake a wider survey of the needs of old people?
§ The Prime MinisterI will certainly consider that.