§ Mr. Higginsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been charged income tax on their national insurance pensions before the pension has been paid because of the industrial action in the Department of Health and Social Security.
§ Mr. Lawson[pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1984, c. 66]: The information on which to base an estimate of the number of persons who have been charged income tax on their national insurance pensions before the pension has been paid is not available. However, the emergency arrangements introduced by DHSS for the payment of retirement pensions during the industrial action should ensure that all pensioners receive their pensions without undue delay. If my hon. Friend is aware of any pensioner who is experiencing particular difficulty in obtaining payment of his pension, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security would be glad to look into it.