§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to inform retirement pensioners of the availability on request of a card confirming entitlement to a national insurance retirement pension which enables holders of such a card to take advantage 764W of concessions which are granted to retired people.
§ Mr. OrmeThe need for such a card does not normally arise when the pension is paid by order book and the leaflet issued to pensioners who wish to be paid by a payable order is being amended to indicate that a card confirming entitlement to pension is available on request. The revised version should be in use shortly. My Department is also considering whether any further action needs to be taken to make this facility more widely known. However, I understand that a birth certificate or the notice of entitlement to pension, which is issued to all pensioners, is often accepted for the purpose of entitlement to concessions.