§ 13. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Social Security how the supplementary pension increase of up to 14s. a week, granted recently to thousands of pensioners, compares with other increases in the pension since 1945.
§ Miss HerbisonAs the information consists of a table of figures, I will, with 1091 permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The increases in March, 1965 and November, 1966 in the basic householder scale rate represent a total increase of 27.6 per cent. over the previous rate, and the real value of this basic rate has increased by 17.1 per cent. since October, 1964. These figures take no account of the new 9s. long-term addition for pensioners.
§ Mr. AllaunAs this welcome increase is the biggest for many years since 1946, why have the Government not sung their praises more loudly? Is it through fear that speculators in London or Zurich may allege gross extravagance and start another run on the £?
§ Miss HerbisonNo, Sir. I have done everything possible to get publicity for this. There is no doubt that the publicity has reached the ears of about 600,000 old people in this country, and I am delighted about it.
§ Miss PikeIs not the answer to the question probably that already the single pension has dropped in value by about 6s., and the double pension has dropped by about 9s.?
§ Miss HerbisonThe most important figure is that they are still 17.1 per cent. better than before we introduced the biggest ever increase in March, 1965.
§ Following is the table:
| INCREASES IN SCALE RATE FOR A PENSIONER WITHOUT DEPENDENTS LIVING AS A HOUSEHOLDER | |||
| (Figures for 1948–1965 relate to National Assistance scheme) | |||
| Year | Scale rate (excluding provision for rent) | Increase over previous rate | Percentage increase (over previous rate) |
| s. d. | s. d. | per cent. | |
| 1945 | 20 0 | — | — |
| 1948 | 24 0 | 4 0 | 20.0 |
| 1950 | 26 0 | 2 0 | 8.3 |
| 1951 | 30 0 | 4 0 | 15.4 |
| 1952 | 35 0 | 5 0 | 16.7 |
| 1955 | 37 6 | 2 6 | 7.1 |
| 1956 | 40 0 | 2 6 | 6.7 |
| 1958 | 45 0 | 5 0 | 12.5 |
| 1959 | 50 0 | 5 0 | 11.1 |
| 1961 | 53 6 | 3 6 | 7.0 |
| 1962 | 57 6 | 4 0 | 7.5 |
| 1963 | 63 6 | 6 0 | 10.4 |
| 1965 | 76 0 | 12 6 | 19.7 |
| 1966 | *81 0 | *5 0 | *6.6 |
| †90 0 | †l4 0 | †l8.4 | |
| *Basic scale rate of new supplementary benefit. | |||
| †Basic scale rate plus long-term addition of 9s. appropriate to all pensioners except those in Part III accommodation and most of those in hospital. |
§ Note.—The long-term addition of 9s. replaces the smaller discretionary additions which were payable under the National Assistance scheme, but the Supplementary Benefits Commission have power to increase the supplementary pension, over and above the long-term addition, where there are exceptional circumstances.