§ 3.13 p.m.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the promise to give old people a share in increasing prosperity, they will now increase old age and retirement pensions.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (THE EARL OF DUNDEE)My Lords, I have nothing to add to the statement which I made in reply to the noble Lord's Question on October 29, 1959.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that this pledge by the Government was supported by everyone throughout the country and there is now considerable anxiety about it? Can he say whether the difficulty is that the Government do not consider there is a sufficient increase in prosperity? Cannot we spare the old people something out of the 10 per cent. increase in production?
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, the noble Lord will very likely have noticed that the Prime Minister, in reply to a Question in another place on November 26, said [OFFICIAL REPORT, Commons, Vol. 614 (No. 26), col. 556]:
The hon. Member can be sure that as the Government's programme unfolds he will find that we shall fully live up to our fine record of achievement in the service of our older fellow countrymen.