HC Deb 28 January 1957 vol 563 cc112-3W
86. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a statement on the discussions he held recently with the National Federation of Old-Age Pensioners.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Feltham (Mr. Hunter) on 19th November.

88. Mr. Hunter

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the further rises in food prices and fares, if he will now urgently consider the question of raising the basic rates of old-age pensions.

89. Mr. Randall

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the representations made by the Old Age Pensioners Association, the continuing rise in the cost of living and the hardship caused to old-age pensioners by not increasing the basic rate of pension and assistance rates, if he will take action as a matter of urgency to raise the rates of benefit.

92. Mr. Sylvester

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the fact that there has been a gradual increase in the prices of the essential foodstuffs and that further increases are likely in rents, rates and transport, and as these increases bear most heavily on persons living on old-age pensions, if he will increase the pension in the near future.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to similar Questions on 3rd and 10th December except that the allegations contained in the Questions of the hon. Members for Feltham (Mr. Hunter) and Pontefract (Mr. Sylvester) are not confirmed by the items in respect of food contained in the last published index of retail prices.

91. Mr. Allaun

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what representations he has received from local authorities urging an increase in old-age pensions.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

During the last twelve months I have received representations from three local authorities, and from two local authority associations.

93. Mr. Hunter

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the total number of old-age pensioners who claimed a refund from the National Assistance Board for the payment of prescriptions for the month of December, 1956; and what was the number of such claims allowed.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The National Assistance Board regrets that this information is not available.