asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is aware of the practice of assuming that men over the age of 70 derive a profit from the personal working of small allotments; and that in certain cases the assumed profit of £1 per year from an allotment, has resulted in a pension being reduced 2s. per week; and whether he will take action to stop this practice?

I am advised that, in calculating the yearly means of a claimant, under the Old Age Pension Acts, the value of any profit or benefit derived by hint from the working of an allotment must be taken into account.. It is for the claimant to satisfy the pension committee as to his means, and if he is aggrieved by their decision it is open to him to appeal against it. There is no power to issue directions which would alter the effect of the Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider setting up a Committee with a view to drawing up a scheme for old age pensions upon a contributory basis such as would preserve the independence of the individual and encourage thrift, under which, whilst the State contribution should remain as now, the larger proportion paid by the individual the larger the benefits received, and the earlier the age at which such benefits would be receivable?

I view this proposal with considerable sympathy, hut T do not think any useful purpose would be served by setting up a Committee to consider a detailed scheme unless there were general agreement. to the principle involved.