§ 77. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the comparative value of the retirement pension on the date when it was last increased and at the present date.
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§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman, the Member for Feltham (Mr. Hunter), on 22nd July.
§ 80. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what recent representations he has received from the National Federation of Old-Age Pensioners concerning the basic rate of retirement pension; and what reply he has sent.
§ 84. Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what recent representations he has received from the National Federation of Old-Age Pensioners for increasing the basic rate of retirement pensions; and what reply he has forwarded to the Federation.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe National Federation of Old-Age Pensions Associations wrote to me last on 8th July. The main emphasis of this letter was to protest against the increased remuneration of hon. Members, etc., and to repeat a request for an increase in the level of retirement pensions. In reply I invited their attention to the assurances given by Her Majesty's Government as to their attitude on this subject.
§ 82. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the average National Assistance supplement made to old-age pensioners seeking it; and what is the highest supplement at present paid on account of a pensioner's rent.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe National Assistance Board informs me that at the end of 1956, the latest date for which the information is at present available, the average amounts of National Assistance grants paid as supplements to retirement and non-contributory old-age pensions were respectively 15s. 1d. and 24s. 8d. a week. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.
§ 83. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that since the last increase awarded to old-age pensioners the price of food, rates, coal, gas, electricity, fares and almost every other commodity has risen, that rents, coal, gas, electricity, fares, postage, telephones and telegrams are due to rise again; and, as this will 113W still further depreciate the already low standard of living of old-age pensioners, whether he will increase old-age pensions before October.
§ 85. Mr. Shurmerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will make a statement before the House rises for the summer Recess, on the question of increasing old-age pensions; what the increase will be; and when it will be given.
§ 89. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, in view of the fact that the retirement pension, as increased to £2 per week in 1955, is now only worth £ 1 15s. 10d. in purchasing power, if he will take early steps to increase the basic pension.
§ 91. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a statement on the Government's intentions on the subject of old-age pensions before the Recess.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have no statement to make on this matter at present.
§ 86. Mr. Shortasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make arrangements to pay each retirement pensioner a holiday bonus of £5 on any convenient date in August.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo. Not only is there no power to make such payments, but also no Government has ever taken the view that they would be an appropriate use of the funds of a National Insurance scheme.
§ 90. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of persons in Feltham and Hounslow on retirement pensions who are receiving supplementary pensions from the National Assistance Board.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am informed by the National Assistance Board that a figure is not available for precisely the area mentioned, but that 2,756 weekly National Assistance grants were being paid on 25th June, 1957, to retirement pensioners in an area comprising Heston and Isleworth Municipal Borough and the Urban Districts of Feltham and Staines. Some of the grants provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner.