HC Deb 27 July 1966 vol 732 cc1711-2
25. Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether war disability pensions will be disregarded in the assessment of income for the purposes of rate rebates.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

This possibility was discussed and was not accepted when the Rating Bill was being debated in February.

Mr. Campbell

Will Ministers look at this again and restore the principle of immunity which has hitherto applied to war disability pensions?

Dr. Mabon

I think the hon. Gentleman has to recognise that when Parliament discussed this it decided to take account only of the amount of the income and not the source of it. This is not a matter of hardship, since hardship cannot be caused when one is giving rebates which were not allowable under previous legislation.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

Will the hon. Gentleman recognise that this matter is of importance not only to Scotland but to the whole country? Will he undertake to consult the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to see whether this very important matter can be reconsidered?

Dr. Mahon

I accept that this is a United Kingdom matter. It was a United Kingdom Act. I take the point made by the hon. Gentleman. We had discussions about this when the Bill was going through the House. We have had discussions since, and we are keeping the whole position under review.