HC Deb 22 November 1972 vol 846 cc1259-61
3. Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet representatives of the Scottish Pensions Association.

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Education, Scottish Office (Mr. Hector Monro)

My right hon. Friend has received no request for a meeting with the Scottish Old Age Pensions Association, to which I assume the hon. Gentleman is referring.

Mr. Strang

Is the Minister aware that the thousands of pensioners from Scotland who are lobbying Parliament today regard the Government's £10 hardship payment as derisory almost to the extent of being insulting? [AN HON. MEMBER: "Utter rubbish."] Would not the Minister agree that it is time we made a break from the policy of successive Governments of paying pensions which barely provide subsistence for pensioners? Will he do everything he can to persuade his right hon. Friends in the Cabinet to do everything possible to alleviate the hardship and poverty which exists amongst Scottish pensioners?

Mr. Monro

All hon. Members in the House, the Government and the Opposition, want to do their very best for old-age pensioners. Indeed the Government have made very drastic steps forward compared with the situation before 1970. I shall not weary the House by reciting the long list of improved benefits, but certainly the Government have this matter very much in their hearts.

Mr. Sproat

Is not the Opposition's attitude particularly sickening in its hypocrisy in view of the fact that when they were in office they were asked to institute pensions for the over-80s but refused, and they were asked for an annual review of pensions, which they refused? Will my hon. Friend seek to emphasise at any meeting he may have with pensioners' associations that the buying power of the pension is now higher than ever and in spite of inflationary pressures is 12 per cent. higher than when the previous Government were in office?

Mr. Monro

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for driving home the point I was making. Members of the present Government, and indeed all Scottish Members in the House today, will be seeing old-age pensioners today and I am sure that we shall make these points very clear.

Mr. Eadie

In the light of the information the hon. Gentleman has received from the Government side of the House, is it not necessary that he meets the Lobby to try to get acquainted with the facts and the realities of how old-age pensioners are at present trying to live with the terrifically high cost of living we are experiencing?

Mr. Monro

I certainly expect to see old-age pensioners in the Lobby today. I shall be making to them the points I have made in the Chamber to explain how much more the present Government have done for pensioners than the previous Government did.