§ 45. Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she is aware of the hardship caused by the rigidity of the Claims and Payments 1209 Regulations, 1948, under which individuals who have been paid monthly can lose up to five days of pension payments if the last day of the month on which they retire does not fall on a Saturday and if she will take steps to modify the Regulations to remove this injustice.
§ Mr. PentlandMy right hon. Friend cannot agree that the present rule causes injustice. Pension is payable on a weekly, not a daily basis and a payment is made for each week of pension life. Every pensioner normally receives a full week's pension within a week of his retirement, regardless of the day of the week on which he retires.
Sir B. JammerDoes my hon. Friend realise that this causes hardship to people who can ill-afford to sustain that hardship? Will he give this matter further consideration?
§ Mr. PentlandIf my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, perhaps he will send the particulars to me and I will gladly look into the matter. In general people do not lose anything, because there is a payment for each week the pension lasts.