HC Deb 03 February 1938 vol 331 cc401-3W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Messrs. Lever Brothers and Unilevers, Limited, are making arrangements whereby State voluntary contributory pensions of employees will be deducted from the amount of superannuation already provided by the employing firm; and whether he will make it clear to employers in general that State pensions should be kept clear and quite apart from any voluntary arrangements for superannuation or pension entered into between employers and employed?

Sir K. Wood

I am not aware of the arrangements referred to in the first part of the question; as regards the second part it would not be competent for me to give a ruling on the lines suggested.

Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain employés of Lever Brothers and Unilever, Limited, who are eligible to contribute to the State voluntary pensions scheme have been notified by their employers that an arrangement has been entered into between the firm and the Ministry whereby all administrative matters connected with this business is to be transacted by the employers; that this arrangement is not welcomed by the employés concerned; and whether this has been sanctioned by the Ministry and he is satisfied that such an arrangement is in accordance with the law and any regulations issued there-under and especially Section 36 of the Act of 1936?

Sir K. Wood

There appears to be some misapprehension in this matter. I understand that the position is that Messrs. Lever Brothers and Unilever, Limited, have undertaken to pay the contributions of certain of their employés who become special voluntary contributors, and the extent of the arrangement between the company and my Department is that the contribution cards of these special voluntary contributors will be issued to and returned from the head office of the company instead of to and from the private addresses of the contributors. I am satisfied that such an arrangement is in accordance with the law.

Mr. Cary

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the inequitable working of the Voluntary Pensions Act as represented by the cases of two men, one with a salary of £410 a year, who would be excluded from the provisions of the Act, and the other with a salary of £190 a year and an unearned income of £195 a year, who would be included; and what steps he proposes to take to overcome this inequality?

Sir K. Wood

The Act to which my hon. Friend refers has only recently come into operation and I do not think it would be possible to arrive at a general conclusion from a comparison of extreme cases.