§ Mr. William McKelvey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun)I seek leave to present a petition on behalf of 5,000 of my constituents. It explains that legislation based on the "Reform of Social Security—Progamme for Action" White Paper would be extremely detrimental to many of the poor, not only in Ayrshire but in the United Kingdom. The good and sensible people of Ayrshire have appended their names to the petition in the hope that the House will take note of the request that the Social Security Bill should not go forward to Third Reading.
§ To lie upon the Table.
§ Mr. Ernie Ross (Dundee, West)I seek leave to present a petition, with which I wish to be associated, on behalf of the elderly people of Dundee who are concerned at the review of the social security system outlined in the Fowler review paper. There are 150,000 elderly persons in Scotland who receive supplementary benefit and a further 75,000 who do not claim supplementary benefit. Rather than seek to review the supplementary benefit system to cut benefits, these elderly people in Dundee would be much better off if the Secretary of State for Social Security carried out a review to ensure that the 75,000 people entitled to claim supplementary benefit receive it and to ensure that benefits are increased. I am sure that hon. Members agree. On behalf of those people, I ask the Minister not to proceed with the review.
§ To lie upon the Table.