§ 2.48 p.m.
Baroness VickersMy 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 it is not an unjust penalty that pensioners who do not receive their pensions because of industrial action by civil servants should be unable to claim for any extra bank charges that they might thereby incur.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Lord Soames)My Lords, as the House knows, I deplore this action by a small group of civil servants, and the Government have the greatest sympathy for any pensioners who are being caused distress and financial inconvenience. But pensioners are, I fear, only one of many groups who are incurring additional charges as a result of industrial disruption. But the noble Baroness may be assured that where there is a legal entitlement to compensation we shall meet it.
Baroness VickersMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord the Minister for that helpful reply. I think he would acknowledge that a great many of these people have small pensions, and if they are unable to get a loan from the bank, of if they do get a loan have to 998 pay interest, it is adding to their difficulties. I should be grateful if he would look into that matter.
§ Lord SoamesMy Lords, as I am sure my noble friend is aware, we have gone to considerable pains to invite those who are in financial difficulties as a result of this action to write in and, given the constraints imposed on us by this industrial action, we shall do our very best to meet them.
§ Lord PlantMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord to say why the management of the Paymaster-General's office has refused the staff's suggestion that they should manually prepare the pensions documents?
§ Lord SoamesMy Lords, a number are being manually prepared. That is the whole point; that when individuals write in to the Paymaster-General's office pointing out that this is causing them personal financial difficulties, the effect is that that case is handled manually.