§ 21. Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the national insurance pension before Christmas.
§ Sir K. JosephNo, Sir. Retirement pension and other benefits were increased54W only last month and special payments of £10 are to be made at the beginning of December to retirement pensioners and others over retirement age who are receiving social security benefits.
§ 29. Mr. Jeffrey Archerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to ensure that future rises in the old-age retirement pensions are made payable sooner after the increase is announced than the present six-months delay.
§ Sir K. JosephI would refer the hon. Member to what I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Torney) on 11th July, 1972. Proposed increases in retirement pensions do, of course, take into consideration the likely movement in prices between the announcement and the date of first payment.—[Vol. 840, c.272–3.]
§ 39. Sir R. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the legislation necessary to implement "Strategy for Pensions", he will provide a pension for the permanently disabled.
§ Mr. DeanWe have made a number of improvements in the provision for the disabled under the State basic scheme, including the introduction of an invalidity pension specifically for the long-term sick or disabled, and of attendance allowance for the severely disabled, the scope of which is currently being extended.