Orders of the Day — Contributory Pensions Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 15 Gorffennaf 1925.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Neville Chamberlain Mr Neville Chamberlain , Birmingham, Ladywood

I think that nearly the whole of the hon. Member's observations were rather wide of the Amendment which he has moved, because they appeared to me to be directed rather to what he supposed the Clause as a whole would do than to the particular exception to the working of the Clause which he desires to make, and I confess I do not understand why it is desired to make that exception, or why the hon. Member did not confine himself merely to arguing against the provisions of the Clause. May I just point out what the effect of this Clause really is? Where a woman is in receipt of a pension under this Bill, and then applies to the guardians for relief, the guardians will take into account the fact that she is in receipt of that pension in considering what relief they will give to her. The next case is the case of a woman who is entitled to a pension but has not actually begun to receive it. Why should that woman be put in a better position than the first woman, who has actually begun to receive her pension? That is exactly what the hon. Member has been arguing. I say that, as between woman and woman, that would not be fair, and, indeed, it would be an inducement to a woman to withhold her claim to a pension as long as possible, in order that she might get, not only the pension, but also a full amount of relief from the guardians. That does not seem to me to be fair either to the guardians on the one hand or to the other woman on the other hand, and I cannot think the hon. Member has quite appreciated what the effect would be if this Clause were not passed.