§ 32. Mr. Worsleyasked the Minister of Social Security whether she will take steps to allow increments to the retirement pension to be disregarded when 940 assessing eligibility for supplementary benefits.
§ Mr. PentlandNo, Sir. As I said last week, to disregard part of the retirement pension would not be consistent with the principle that supplementary benefits should be complementary to the National Insurance Scheme.
§ Mr. WorsleyWill the Parliamentary Secretary consider this matter in any future review, in that a change of this sort would encourage workers to stay in full-time and useful work?
§ Mr. PentlandWe are prepared to consider these points at all times. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular case in mind, outside of what I said, I assure him that I would be glad to look into it.