HC Deb 09 November 1962 vol 666 cc1409-11

[Queen's Recommendation signified]

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 84 {Money Committees).

[Sir ROBERT GRIMSTON in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to provide for increases or supplements in respect of certain pensions, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred by a Government department under or by virtue of any provision of the said Act of the present Session—

  1. (a) providing for increases of pensions described in the Schedule to the Pensions (Increase) Act 1959 and certain other pensions, being increases at percentage rates of the annual rates of the pensions after any relevant increase within the meaning of the said Act of 1959, varying by reference to the dates on which the pensions began, or of fixed amounts related to thosedates and the age of the persons in receipt of the pensions;
  2. (b) authorising the Secretary for Technical Co-operation to supplement certain pensions payable in respect of service under the governments of overseas territories and certain pensions payable in respect of service in any of the armed forces of the Crown raised in an overseas territory, not being pensions payable under any warrant or other instrument made by virtue of Her Majesty's prerogative in respect of such forces;
  3. (c) amending the Pensions (India, Pakistan and Burma) Act 1955, so as to enable the 1410 said Act of the present Session and previous Pensions (Increase) Acts to be applied to additional Indian Pension Funds;
  4. (d) extending the benefit of increases under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1944, and subsequent Persons (Increase) Acts to persons undergoing full-time education or training;
  5. (e) authorising the increase under the said Act of the present Session and under previous Pensions (Increase) Acts of certain local government gratuities granted by way of periodical payments or annuities;
  6. (f) enabling the said Act of the present Session and previous Pensions (Increase) Acts to be applied to certain pensions payable in respect of service with the Raw Cotton Commission and in connection with its dissolution;
  7. (g) applying or extending for the purposes of the said Act of the present Session any of the provisions of sections 2 to 6 of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1959;
and any increase attributable to any such provision of the said Act of the present Session in the sums payable out of moneys so provided under any other enactment.—[Mr. Barber.']

4.1p.m.

Mr. Douglas Houghton (Sowerby)

I shall not detain the House for more than a few moments, but I am bound to express regret at the terms in which this Money Resolution has been drafted. I think it is unnecessarily restrictive on the scope of discussion and of Amendments in Committee. Notwithstanding the fact that this is a beneficial Bill which we all want to see on the Statute Book at an early date, I do not think it fair to the House of Commons when a Money Resolution is drafted in these terms and then a day is fixed for the Committee and remaining stages of the Bill which obviously is going to restrict the freedom of hon. Members to discuss the Bill and to make proposals to amend it.

We have been put in a straitjacket by the Money Resolution. I do not propose to hold up the proceedings any further, but I register my protest, and on Friday next when we have the Committee stage we will see how we get on. But do not expect full co-operation from this side of the House in a situation where the scope for our discussion on the Bill has been unnecessarily restricted.

4.2 p.m.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Anthony Barber)

I think, perhaps that if some of my hon. Friends have not looked in detail at the Money Resolution, then I ought to say a brief word in reply. I looked at it very carefully before it was handed to the authorities. It will, in fact, permit debate and amendment on virtually every point germane to the Bill. Obviously, I cannot give a list of all the points which might be put down in Amendments, but if I might mention a few, I think the Committee will agree that it is reasonable. For example, we can consider the percentage rates which are applicable under Clause 1, the amount of the flat rate addition under Clause 2, the cutoff dates, the ages at which pensions increase is payable and the operative date.

I must say that I gave very close personal consideration to this matter, bearing in mind that this is a Pensions (Increase) Bill and not a Bill to alter the basic pensions, and I should have thought that it was perfectly reasonable. I hope that my hon. Friends and hon. Members opposite when they look at it in detail will reach the same conclusion.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

Report to be received upon Monday next.