HC Deb 06 February 1967 vol 740 cc1082-4
3. Mr. Winnick

asked the Minister of Social Security when the review on the social services and social security will be published.

16. Mr. Astor

asked the Minister of Social Security when she expects to publish that section of the general review of the social services which particularly concerns the disabled and the chronic sick.

21. Mr. Haseldine

asked the Minister of Social Security when the review of social security will be completed and an announcement on the graduated pension scheme made.

Miss Herbison

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on 28th November.—[Vol. 737, c. 5.]

Mr. Winnick

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a great deal of feeling on this side of the House that the report should be published as soon as possible? Does she agree that there are still many people who were neglected under the Tories and who desperately need additional benefits to improve their standard of living?

Miss Herbison

I would agree entirely that there is poverty, particularly amongst children. We have not awaited the completion of the whole review. As one part was ready, such as earnings-related short-term benefits, we brought it forward. When our proposals for supplementary pensions and other benefits were ready, we brought them forward. The most important outstanding part of the review, which must come forward as quickly as possible, is that dealing with children.

Mr. Astor

Does not the Minister agree that the need for special help for the disabled and chronic sick is readily recognised? In view of the urgency, will she give a firm undertaking to bring forward that part of the review without necessarily waiting for the whole review to be completed?

Miss Herbison

We have no intention, on any part of the review, to wait until the whole review is completed. The Ministry of Social Security Act has helped some of the chronic sick. I realise only too well how much has still to be done.

Mr. Haseldine

Is the Minister aware that the details of this review are anxiously awaited because of the concern which is felt about the existing graduated pension scheme inaugurated by the Conservative Government?

Miss Herbison

Yes, I realise this very well. Wherever I go to speak, the one point which is always stressed is the need to get rid of the present graduated pension scheme.

Miss Pike

Is the right hon. Lady saying that as soon as she has the answers to some of the very difficult social problems we are facing, she will bring in social legislation? Does this mean that at the moment she has not got the answers on the policy for child poverty or for the disabled group?

Miss Herbison

There are many ways of dealing with child poverty. We must be certain that the correct way of dealing with it is chosen. If the Conservative Administration had done some of the work which was necessary, especially as there were poor children at that time, we might have been much nearer the mark now.

8. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Social Security what progress has been made in the review of the contribution record and other regulations affecting the payment of widows' benefits.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Social Security (Mr. Charles Loughlin)

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the period of widow's allowance has recently been extended from 13 to 26 weeks, and a new earnings-related widow's supplementary allowance has been introduced. The review of other aspects of the structure of widows' benefits is continuing. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the individual case which I think he has in mind.

Mr. Blenkinsop

I welcome my hon. Friend's Answer, but does not he agree that some of the contribution require- ments are incomprehensible and are very often felt to be most unfair? Will he do something to speed up the further review of problems of the kind which the individual case which I put forward illustrates?

Mr. Loughlin

I do not think that the regulations are incomprehensible, but they are complicated, and are bound to be so. In fact, some of the problems faced by my hon. Friend's constituent arise out of the easements and concessions recently introduced.

Miss Pike

Does not the hon. Gentleman recognise that there are some serious anomalies in this, and that the sooner his right hon. Friend gets on with the review the better? I am thinking particularly of the woman who marries a second time and becomes widowed. She then finds herself in an extremely anomalous situation.

Mr. Loughlin

We agree that there are difficulties here, but, as the hon. Lady knows—I do not want to spell out the concessions which have recently been granted since this Government came to power—we are having almost a continuous review, and we hope that simplification will emerge from it.