§ Q6. Mr. Rankinasked the Prime Minister on what date he received a letter from Glasgow Corporation on retrospective payment of increases in pensions to aged persons; and whether he intends acceding to their request.
§ The Prime MinisterOn 11th January. The reply which has been sent refers to the detailed explanation of the reasons why it is not possible to make retrospective payment of the increases, which was given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when she saw representatives of the Corporation in Glasgow on 30th December.
§ Mr. RankinIn view of that reply, would my right hon. Friend consider ensuring that at the point of payment the pension will have the value which it had when it was decided to increase it?
§ The Prime MinisterThe increase in the pension which the House has approved, on the initiative of the Government, is the biggest increase in the pension since 1946 and, though a number of prices have risen and a large number of prices were rising before the election, I think that my hon. Friend will find that when the pension is paid, in real terms it will still be by far the most substantial pension that we have given the old-age pensioners.
§ Mr. Arthur LewisWill the Prime Minister ascertain from his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health how much money the old-age pensioners will save through the abolition of prescription charges?