§ 29. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Social Security if she will take steps to shield the retired on low fixed incomes from paying towards the cost of education services.
§ Mr. PentlandThe increases in the levels of retirement pensions and supplementary pensions last October have done much to help these people, and, as the hon. Gentleman knows, it is the Government's intention to increase supplementary pensions again in the autumn of this year.
§ Mr. RidsdaleDoes the Parliamentary Secretary realise that if the Minister came to my constituency and said that retired people were 18.5 per cent. better off than they were in 1964 very few would believe her? Does she think it fair that people on £12 a week should be paying towards the cost of education?
§ Mr. PentlandWe would claim at all times that retirement pensioners, as my right hon. Friend made perfectly clear again this afternoon, are now on a higher level in real terms than ever they were during the term of office of the Tory Party. I do not accept the suggestion, and it would be unreasonable and impracticable to single out the cost of education services for special treatment in the way the hon. Member suggests.