§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Health whether he has considered a letter from the Secretary of the National Federation of Old Age Pensions Associations protesting against the withholding of the extra 2s. 6d. from old age pensioners who were in receipt of a higher amount of supplementary pension through receiving a higher amount from the public assistance prior to the Supplementary Pensions Act; and will he issue an instruction that in all such cases the extra 2s. 6d. should be paid?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe object of the Regulations recently approved by Parliament was to increase the scale rates by reference to which supplementary pensions were calculated. The fact that a small number of pensioners who, by virtue of Section 13 of the Act of 1940, were already receiving supplementary pensions in excess of these rates would not benefit to the same extent as other pensioners was explained in paragraph 4 of the White Paper at the time. My right hon. Friend has no power to issue any such instruction as my hon. Friend suggests.