§ 7. Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Social Security what representations she has received from the Scottish Old Age Pensioners Association on the future of pensioners; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. HartThe Scottish Old Age Pensioners Association has been in correspondence with me about several questions concerning National Insurance retirement pensions. I have explained the position on each of these to it.
§ Mr. EadieIs my right hon. Friend aware that the last issue of The Pensioner expressed the view that selectivity means more means testing for pensioners?
§ Mrs. HartI am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me a chance to say quite categorically that I would not for a moment contemplate extending means-testing to present or future retirement pensioners. I have tried to make this clear to the Association, and it is incredible to me that it has apparently not yet totally understood my point of view.
Earl of DalkeithCan the right hon. Lady say what consultations she has had with the Minister of Power in order to try to narrow the gap between England and Scotland in terms of the price of coal and the like, so that Scottish old-age pensioners are not relatively worse off than their English counterparts?