§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, when an ex-serviceman in receipt of a war disability pension is dependent on supplementary benefit, a proportion of such a pension is taken into account; and whether he will reconsider this ruling.
§ Mr. DeanSince the purpose of supplementary benefit is to bring a person's other income up to a certain level, it is right in principle that such income should be taken into account; but the Ministry of Social Security Act recognises the special nature of war disablement pension by providing that up to £2 a week of such a pension is disregarded, as 279W against the standard disregard of £1 a week for most other forms of income. There is no intention of changing this rule.