§ Q1. Mr. Carterasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the Government's implementation of their social and economic policies; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)Yes, Sir.
§ Mr. CarterIs the Prime Minister therefore saying that he is satisfied with the standard of living of old-age pensioners, which has consistently declined under this Government, and whose pension increase this autumn has already been wiped out by inflation?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have carried out our undertaking to review pensions, and pensioners will receive the largest increase ever in September.
§ Mr. GorstWill my right hon. Friend make it clear to right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite, as well as to the country as a whole, that the Government have already implemented a very large number of the social and economic policies which they pledged themselves to implement at the General Election?
§ The Prime MinisterAll those who study the matter will know that there are many formerly deprived groups in this country being helped today who were never helped before.
§ Mr. John MendelsonBeyond the charge and counter-charge, does the Prime Minister accept that because of the extraordinary increase in the cost of living, particularly in those areas where most of the expenditure of old-age pensioners goes, as anybody who has been in touch with groups of pensioners knows, there is now a need for the figures to be taken up and for a further review to be instituted at once?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir; I do not accept that.