§ Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Overseas Development why, now that she has accepted responsibility for pension supplements for overseas pensioners from certain territories under Statutory Instruments 1083 and 1496 of 1965, the starting date for such supplements is not 1st January, 1963, as for the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1962.
§ Mr. OramThe general purpose of a pensions increase measure is the relief of hardship arising from increases in the cost of current maintenance, and it would be inconsistent with this purpose if retrospection were granted in cases where it is decided to admit to benefit new categories of pensioners, remove anomalies or improve existing awards.