§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to increase war pensions.
§ Miss WiddecombeAn amendment order, which increases in line with the retail prices index, war pensions 697W and allowances in respect of ex-service men and women, and which introduces some changes which will help simplify the scheme, was made yesterday by the Privy Council. The order will be laid before Parliament for information on 22 March. Legislation to make similar amendments to the scheme for civilians was laid today. The main element of the changes is that, in addition to the uprating from 12 April, the basic war disablement pension has been increased by £5 a week; this change will result in considerable cash gains for some 200,000 pensioners.