§ 28. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Minister of Social Security if she will seek power to introduce National Insurance benefits and supplementary benefits adjusted to cost-of-living changes at regular intervals.
§ Miss HerbisonThese matters naturally fall to be considered as part of our review of social security, but I would remind my hon. Friend that National Insurance and supplementary benefits are substantially higher at the present time than they would have been if they had been tied to the cost of living in the past.
§ Mr. RobertsI thank my right hon. Friend for the latter part of that reply, but does she agree that, in the coming economic expansion, if there is any increase in the cost of living, there is danger that the pensioners may be left behind again? Will she assure us that, at the end of the present freeze, people on pensions and benefits of all types will be given No. 1 priority?
§ Miss HerbisonIt is difficult to say what will be given No. 1 priority, particularly when one listens to all the pressures being exercised, quite rightly, from this side of the House. All I can say is that this is a matter which the Government keep under review continually and that we are determined to safeguard the position and the standard of living of our old people.
§ Mr. DeanMay I press the right hon. Lady again on this? Does not she agree that she is pledged, by the Labour Party's last election manifesto, to tie pensions and other benefits to the cost of living?
§ Miss HerbisonThe hon. Gentleman is wrong again. We pledged far more than that. We said in 1964 that they would be tied to rises in earnings.