HC Deb 23 April 1951 vol 487 cc13-4W
103. Miss Ward

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will increase the National Assistance scales to a level which increases the supplementary pensions in such a way as to make the 4s. rise in the basic old age pension a reality.

107. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will reconsider her decision not to propose to the National Assistance Board that they should review the scale rates payable by the Board, in view of the rise in the cost of living.

Mr. B. Taylor

Under the Statute any revision in the scales of assistance is a matter in the first instance for the National Assistance Board. I would ask the hon. Members to await a statement which my right hon. Friend hopes to make on this subject on the Second Reading of the National Insurance Bill on Thursday this week.

Mr. A. Lewis

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she has made the necessary arrangements to amend the National Assistance Acts to enable all old age pensioners in receipt of supplementary pensions and assistance to enjoy the full increase in the basic retirement pension as envisaged in the Budget statement.

Mr. B. Taylor

Under the Statute any revision in the scales of assistance is a matter in the first instance for the National Assistance Board. I would ask the hon. Member to await a statement which my right hon. Friend hopes to make on this subject on the Second Reading of the National Insurance Bill on Thursday this week.

Mr. A. Lewis

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will give, for the latest convenient stated date, the numbers of old age pensioners over 70 years of age in the case of men, and 65 years of age in the case of women in receipt of supplementary payments from the National Assistance Board to the extent of 4s. or more per week; and the total cost of such payments in any stated period.

Mr. B. Taylor

It is estimated that the total number of retirement pensioners, aged 70 or over in the case of men and 65 or over in the case of women, who are in receipt of regular weekly grants of national assistance is 700,000. I regret that the other information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available.