§ Mr. Llewellynasked the Lord President of the Council what are the practical objections to allowing old age pensioners admission at a reduced charge to the 182W Festival of Britain on production of their pension order books, together with their identity cards.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI take it that the hon. Member refers to the South Bank Exhibition. It would be unwise to encourage old age pensioners to join queues at the turnstiles in the hope of obtaining admission even if the complications and delay involved in handling their papers on presentation could be accepted. Any such concession would consequently involve the purchase of advance tickets. The Advance Ticket Office of the Festival could not undertake the task of handling pension order books and identity cards sent by post even if their owners were willing to part with them for a period of several days and, consequently, the only pensioners who would be likely to benefit from the advance ticket arrangements would be those who found it possible to call personally at the Ticket Office in London.
There are several classes of the public besides old age pensioners which could stake a claim for admission to the South Bank Exhibition at a reduced charge. After very careful consideration it has been decided that the fairest course is to confine such a concession to organised parties of children in full-time attendance at school.