§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that the continuing rise in the cost of living is adversely affecting retirement pensioners; and whether he will therefore seek to arrange for all pensions in the Christmas week to be overstamped with a double pension to enable such pensioners to spend more during Christmas.
§ Mr. CrossmanOur policy has been to do as much as we can for pensioners every week and not just once a year. My hon. Friend should not overlook that despite the price increases to which he refers, retirement pensioners are now better off by some 15 per cent. in real terms than when the Government took office in 1964.