HC Deb 18 September 1940 vol 365 c166W
Mr. Silverman

asked the Minister of Health whether he will hold an inquiry into the administration of supplementary old age pensions, especially directed to the principles upon which old age pensioners living in separate establishments but in the same house as relatives are refused any supplementation unless the means of the said relatives are disclosed?

Miss Horsbrugh

As my right hon. Friend stated in reply to a Supplementary Question on 5th September by the hon. Member for Gorbals (Mr. Buchanan) he does not think that any general inquiry into the administration of supplementary pensions is required. Moreover the implication of the last part of the Question cannot be accepted. Where the Assistance Board's officer is satisfied that an old age pensioner is not living as a member of a household an assessment of the appropriate supplementary pension is made without regard to the means of anybody other than the pensioner himself.