§ 7. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what representations she has received from the Scottish Old Age Pensions Association concerning the granting of rates relief to old people; and what was her reply.
§ 25. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what representations she has received concerning the burden of rates 1211 on retirement pensioners in Scotland; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Miss HerbisonI am in correspondence with the Scottish Old Age Pensions Association and am explaining to it the position of supplementary pensioners under the rate rebate scheme and under the rate relief schemes of Scottish local authorities.
§ Mr. HamiltonWill my right hon. Friend confirm that the association appears to be labouring under some misunderstanding, and is she in her correspondence making it abundantly clear that these people are not suffering from the legislation that the Government have introduced?
§ Miss HerbisonCertainly. We are trying to make it perfectly clear that what is obtaining in Scotland at present will continue afterwards.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneIs the right hon. Lady also making it abundantly clear that old-age pensioners in Scotland are in many cases suffering as a result of the Government's rate relief scheme, and will she also explain to them that £3 million additional grant is a very inadequate way of fulfilling the Government's undertaking to transfer a large part of the rate burden to the Exchequer?
§ Miss HerbisonThe hon. Gentleman is quite wrong. No retirement pensioner in Scotland will suffer under the Government's schemes.