§ Mr. T. Smithasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware 1380W that in consequence of the provision that an old age pension shall be payable in advance as from the first Thursday after the applicant reaches the qualifying age, an applicant who has been unemployed and in receipt of unemployment benefit or allowance suffers hardship, in that the benefit or allowance ceases on his birthday, and he may be without any income for the greater part of a week; and whether he will take action to bridge the gap?
§ Mr. BernaysI have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend cannot agree that there is a gap to be bridged. On the existing arrangements for the payment of unemployment insurance benefit, unemployment assistance allowance, and old age pension the position cannot arise that a man may be without any income for the greater part of the week following his 65th birthday.