§ Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances his Department withholds payment of pensions towards which the intending recipient has made contributions by way of deductions from wages or salaries.
§ Dr. BoysonSmall amounts of retirement and widows pensions—£1 a week or less—are now paid annually instead of weekly, monthly or quarterly. The first such annual payment will be made towards the end of 1984. The change follows a Rayner study of arrangements for payment of Social Security Benefits. Where a pensioner indicates that this will cause undue hardship more frequent payments are possible. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Silvester) on 12 July 1983. —[Vol. 45, c.331.]