HC Deb 09 July 1962 vol 662 cc963-4
35. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many old-age pensioners are in receipt of National Assistance in the area covered by the Easington Parliamentary division.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher)

I regret that this information is not available as the Parliamentary Division of Easington is served by three offices of the National Assistance Board which also serve areas in other divisions.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it not possible to analyse the number of cases at the various offices? Why should not this information be available? Is the hon. Lady aware that we are becoming very worried about the number of cases of hardship brought to our notice? In those circumstances, is it not possible to step up the National Assistance payments so as to relieve the hardship experienced by many of these pensioners?

Mrs. Thatcher

We could not possibly analyse the payments by any statistical process. It would mean a separate count. I can give the right hon. Gentleman the figures for the three offices which serve his division and areas around it.

Mr. Shinwell

That is all I asked for.

Mrs. Thatcher

The figures for the three offices—which is not the Question asked by the right hon. Gentleman—are: Houghton-le-Spring, Durham and Hartlepool, totalling 8,494.

Mr. Shinwell

That is exactly the information that I am trying to get. Does it not denote that the pension is completely insufficient? It is no use the right hon. Gentleman shaking his head in that negative way. Will he come and listen to the tales that we hear about the difficulties experienced by these people? Is he aware that we are not going to put up with this sort of thing very much longer?

Mrs. Thatcher

I am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman is disappointed that my right hon. Friend is not answering his Question, but I do not think his conclusions follow from his premise.