HC Deb 18 December 1972 vol 848 cc921-3
The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. James Prior)

With permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a short business statement.

As the House knows, the Government have decided to make the £10 Christmas Bonus available to those pensioners previously excluded because of their earnings. This decision involves further legislation, which will be presented and published tomorrow.

Following the undertakings given by right hon. Members opposite to facilitate the passage of all stages of the Bill in one day, it is intended to bring it before the House as first business on Wednesday, in the hope that similar action can be taken in another place in time to allow Royal Assent to be signified before the House adjourns.

Mr. Harold Wilson

I should like to express satisfaction, which I am sure will be shared in all parts of the House, at the announcement made by the Leader of the House. I should like to endorse the statement made last Thursday by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Leader of the Opposition that we shall do all in our power to facilitate the progress of the forthcoming measure on Wednesday. I do not say that there will be no discussion whatever, but within the parameters announced by the right hon. Gentleman we hope that it will pass through the House with all speed and that this will interfere as little as possible with the important debate that is due to be held on that day.

Does the Bill extend to widows or the long-term sick? If not, is it drafted in a form in which amendments could be moved to that effect? Is the Leader of the House aware that we on this side of the House are grateful that the Ten Minute Rule Bill, the introduction of which was intimated by my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle), has prised open this issue and got the Government moving?

Mr. Prior

I am grateful for the right hon. Gentleman's words and for his intimation that the Opposition will facilitate the Bill's progress this week. As I understand the situation, the Bill deals with women over 60 and men over 65—in other words, those who have retired or who are drawing retirement pensions but who were previously omitted from the Bill's provisions because of the operation of the earnings rule. The Bill does not seek to go further than that. I understand that there is a further additional clause in the Bill to deal with another matter on which there has been consultation within the usual channels.

Mr. Hooson

May I on behalf of the Parliamentary Liberal Party welcome this news. [HON. MEMBERS: "Where are the rest of the Liberals?"] They are preparing for the next by-election. Would the Leader of the House confirm that if facilities are provided to allow the Bill to pass quickly through the House, payments will be made before Christmas?

Mr. Prior

I regret to say that it will be impossible to pay out before Christmas, but the vast majority of those concerned should be paid shortly after Christmas. About 1,500 of the 7,000 to whom the provisions will apply may have to apply personally for payment, and this will take a little while. Each case will be looked at individually, but the majority—80 per cent.—should be paid within a short time after Christmas.

Mr. Cockeram

Will the Bill take account of those men of pensionable age who on reaching pensionable age have decided to continue in employment but who have been made redundant and are drawing unemployment pay—which is the only income they have?

Mr. Prior

I must leave this sort of question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. As I understand the situation, the Bill relates to those who have retired but who were excluded by the operation of the earnings rule. However, I shall ask my right hon. Friend to deal with that point.

Mr. O'Malley

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the Secretary of State for Social Services and his Under-Secretary of State explained in the House that the principal reason for excluding these two categories of pensioner from the Bill was the Government's desire to make the payments before Christmas? Since the principle now appears to be that of making payments after Christmas, will the Leader of the House consult again the Secretary of State and say to him, "Do not be a Scrooge this Chirstmas: pay the widows and long-term sick as well"?

Mr. Prior

This was one of the reasons for introducing this new legislation. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State explained in his Press handout on Friday, it was always the Government's intention that people who were not eligible because of the earnings rule would be excluded, but this was not made sufficiently clear and the Government thought it right to put the matter straight. I suggest to the hon. Gentleman that the matters he raised will fall outside the Bill as drafted, but this matter can be dealt with by my right hon. Friend and I will inform him of the hon. Gentleman's views.