§ 10. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that many aged, needy people still attach the stigma of relief to National Assistance, and will not as a consequence seek relief even when in great need; and if he will remove this misapprehension by changing the words to Supplementary Pensions Benefit.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAs I told the House on 27th July, 1959, the Board has already changed the description on its order-books and leaflets to "Supplement to pension or other weekly grant".
§ 11. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much of the forthcoming 3s. 6d. increase in National Assistance scales for single pensioners he estimates will be needed on the average to cover the 1s. 8d. per hundred-weight rise in the cost of coal since October.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think the hon. Member has misunderstood the position. All but 6d. a cwt. of the recent change in coal prices amounts to no more than the regular seasonal withdrawal of the summer reduction in coal prices. And, 75W as the House knows, changes of this order in the price of particular commodities are well covered by the substantial advance in the standards of National Assistance which came into operation last autumn.