§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider giving grant aid for bona fide active lobbying retirement pensioners organisations to claim for higher pensions and benefits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonNo. There are no powers to fund voluntary organisations for social security purposes. For an explanation of our policy on the funding of organisations in the health and personal social services fields, I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Porter) on 21 December 1983.—[Vol. 51, c.290.]
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to obtain and publish in the Official Report the provision made by the European Community countries towards the costs incurred by retirement pensioners organisations in lobbying regarding pensions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonYes, the information requested by the hon. Member will be sought and I shall publish in due course whatever information we are able to obtain.