HL Deb 11 May 1970 vol 310 cc408-9
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 the Chancellor of the Exchequer made provision in the Budget to make possible a rise in war pensions and allowances during this year which will take account of the present increase and expected increase in the cost and standard of living.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, no provision was made in the Budget, because war pensions and allowances, together with National Insurance benefits and supplementary benefits, were increased as recently as last November. That increase was the third made by the present Government since they took office in October, 1964.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, the cost of living has already risen, and is rising rapidly; and if the Chancellor makes no provision to do something before this year is out he will be neglecting a very important element in the community. Can the noble Lord give an assurance that war pensions will be considered before this year is out, and especially some of the special allowances, which go to men disabled in the highest degree? There are a very small number of them, and they were not dealt with in the period mentioned by the noble Lord. Is he also aware that the wives and children's allowances given to these men have not been improved since the First World War?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I can give an assurance that these matters will be watched. I think the noble Lord will agree that the record of this Government so far has proved that action does follow the review which is given. I have no doubt that he will also have considered the reference in the White Paper in which the Government have given a promise that, as with pensions and other benefits generally, war pensions and allowances will be increased in line with any increase in the cost of living.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, that is a repetition of the pre-Election promise to keep it level, is it?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I am not quite sure what the noble Lord means. There is a Bill in another place which will shortly be coming here and which will have the effect of putting pensions in line with the increase in the cost of living; and Her Majesty's Government have promised in the White Paper which was published on that Bill that war pensions will be treated similarly.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord.