§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if, in view of the variations in the cost of living during the last five years, he is aware that many Service pensioners living on fixed pensions suffer financial hardship; and if he will take steps to ensure that such pensions shall be assessed in a way which will bear a direct relation to the cost of living at the time when the pension is actually paid to the pensioner.
§ Mr. BirchThe object of the various Pensions Increase Acts has been to alleviate hardship of the kind referred to by the hon. and learned Member.