§ 25. Mr. Tapsellasked the Minister of Social Security whether she will take steps to give pension as of right to those persons over 80 years of age excluded in the National Insurance Scheme when it started in 1948, when she raises the supplementary benefit levels this autumn.
§ Mr. PentlandNo, Sir, because the supplementary benefits scheme provides a supplementary pension for those who need one.
§ Mr. TapsellAs this is a small and, by the nature of things, a rapidly diminishing group of people, nearly half of whom are already drawing supplementary benefits, would it not be both administratively simpler and socially welcome if they could be given some pension as of right?
§ Mr. PentlandThey can have supplementary benefit as of right, as agreed by Parliament. I draw the hon. Member's attention to the fact that 70.000 of the group of non-pensioners about whom he is concerned are already drawing supplementary pension and that the increased rates which will come into force in the autumn will also extend those benefits even to some who are at present not able to receive supplementary benefit.