§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health whether he has considered resolutions from old age pensioners' associations in Leyton, and other areas, requesting an increase in the basic scale of old age pensions in view of the increase in the cost 216W of living; and whether he will now indicate at what percentage of increase in the cost of living he will consider improving that scale?
§ Miss HorsbrughMy right hon. Friend has considered the resolutions in question. It is the policy of the Government to meet the situation to which my hon. Friend refers, not by increasing the basic rate of old age pensions, but by the provision of supplementary pensions in cases of need. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Martin) on 8th January.