§ Q4. Mr. Lamondasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the various Departments responsible for retirement pensioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. The Secretary of State for Social Services maintains close contact with other Ministers on all matters affecting retirement pensioners.
§ Mr. LamondNevertheless, did the Prime Minister notice the reply given by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications the other day in which he said that he had received no fewer than 25 petitions calling for pensioners to receive free television licences? Although we are sympathetic to these petitions, does this not illustrate that pensioners are being browbeaten into accepting that they must now ask for charity? Will the Prime Minister take the proper course of returning to these pensioners their dignity by giving them an immediate increase which will enable them to live at the present high cost of living without having to come begging to the House of Commons?
§ The Prime MinisterI recognise the view which the hon. Gentleman has expressed and which was put forward by petitioners. The plain fact is that the 648 real value of the pension this Christmas will be higher than its value at Christmas 1969, the last under the Labour Government, and higher than at any previous Christmas.
§ Mr. Raphael TuckIs the Prime Minister aware that hundreds of thousands of pensioners are not receiving their advertised £1 increase because they are on supplementary benefit? Will he try to persuade his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to give these pensioners their £1 increase which was so widely advertised by the Government?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman knows that under all Administrations when pensions are increased there is always an adjustment of supplementary benefit.