§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn accordingly presented a Bill to require local authorities to monitor the condition of their population; to require central government to publish information on the poverty of the people; to exempt pensioner households from standing charges; to extend pensioners' concessionary fare schemes; to make provision for the calculation of old age pensions by reference to average earnings; to equalise retirement ages at 60; to make provision for the calculation of social security benefits by reference to average earnings; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon Friday 20 October, and to be printed. [Bill 169.]
§ Mrs. Alice Mahon (Halifax)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. When my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) read out the title of his Bill, the Elimination of Poverty Bill, he caused great amusement on the part of the Minister of State for the Armed Forces. Would it be in order for the hon. Gentleman to explain to us why he was so highly amused when somebody was talking about grants—
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Geoffrey Lofthouse)Order. That is a good try, but it is not a point of order for the Chair. It is a matter for the Minister.