§ Mr. Perkinsasked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is aware that old age pensioners can only obtain their pensions by proxy if they certify that they are prevented by illness from attending at a post office; and whether she will amend the wording on the form so as to make it possible for old age pensioners to appoint a proxy if they have difficulty for any reason in attending at a post office.
§ Dr. SummerskillAppointments of proxies to draw pensions have been limited to cases where a pensioner is ill or infirm, in order mainly to restrict the possibility of abuse such as the illegal assignment of pension. Such appointments also involve additional supervision by my Department and additional administrative expense. The present instructions are designed to cover circumstances in which obvious hardship might result, but if the hon. Member has any special types of case in mind I would be prepared to consider them