HL Deb 26 June 1969 vol 303 cc267-8

3.10 p.m.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My 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, before the new war pensions Royal Warrant and Orders in Council are laid, they will consider increasing the allowances for comforts and age, and the special occupational allowance and severely disabled allowance for the exceptionally disabled, all of which have been adversely affected by the rise in the cost of living since October, 1967.]

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, the most careful and sympathetic consideration has been given to the needs of war pensioners but I can hold out no hope that the particular allowances the noble Lord has in mind can be increased on this occasion.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, there are four allowances mentioned in my Question. May I ask the noble Baroness whether she is aware that the comforts allowance and the age allowance were both raised two years ago? The other two allowances I mentioned were too new to be attended to then. Is it not clear that the cost of living has adversely affected all these allowances? As very few people are involved, and very little money, will the Government be more sympathetic and keep these allowances on the right level?

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that the Government are sympathetic, and of course we honour the noble Lord for the great attention that he pays to all these matters. But I think he will agree that successive Governments have maintained the principle of not upgrading every allowance on every occasion. The noble Lord will know—although other Members of your Lordships' House may not—that the pensioners who are receiving the two particular allowances with which the noble Lord is concerned will all receive the increase in the basic pension and, unless in hospital, will get an increase in their constant attendance allowance; and about three-quarters of them will also be getting an increase in the unemployability supplement. So in fact they will he receiving some extra money, although the Government wish to preserve the principle of not upgrading each allowance on every occasion.