§ 16. Mr. Lamondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he last received a deputation of retirement pensioners.
§ Sir K. JosephI received a deputation from the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations on Wednesday, 27th October, 1971.
§ Mr. LamondThe right hon. Gentleman will be aware of the great anxiety among pensioners about the future, especially with winter drawing on, and that they find it very difficult to believe the figures being given by the Government to show that they are better off now 234 than they were last year. Will he not take advantage of today's debate to announce a new initiative with regard to the care of the elderly, on similar lines to that announced by President Nixon today, with a view to discovering the true nature of the needs of old people so that his Department can do something to meet some of the anxieties and make elderly people look forward to retirement instead of dreading it?
§ Sir K. JosephThat is more for the debate today, but I accept that the pensioners who came to see me convinced me that they need an assurance about the future.