§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Social Security why she will not increase the rates of supplementary pensions in order that retirement pensioners receiving supplementary pensions get the full benefit of the increase in retirement pensions.
§ Mrs. HartBecause, for Supplementary Pensioners, this is the second instalment of the increase. Supplementary Pension rates were raised in November last year at a time when Retirement Pensions stood still. When the two increases are taken together, Supplementary Pension householders have had a total increase virtually equivalent to the single increase received by Retirement Pensioners this year. The essential difference is that Supplementary Pensioners had half of their increase almost a year ago.
§ Mr. Concannonasked the Minister of Social Security if she is aware that it is possible for an old-age pensioner who received a 10s. increase to be left with only 2s. after deduction of Social Security contributions; and if she will amend her regulations to enable such pensioners to retain a higher proportion of the increase.
§ Mrs. HartI understand my hon. Friend has in mind the Supplementary Pensioner who lives as a member of someone else's household. In general this class of Supplementary Pensioners has benefited proportionately rather more than others from the improvements made in recent years and the modified increase in their total income in October was made in order to restore a better relationship with other Supplementary Benefit rates. National insurance contributions play no part in this situation.