Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Service – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 July 1947.
Sir Henry Channon
, Southend-on-Sea
12:00,
8 July 1947
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he is aware of the grievance of retired civil servants because the recent increase in their pensions only represents a small percentage of the recent increase in the cost of living; and whether he anticipates it will be possible in due course to make a further increase in these pensions, so that they bear a closer relation to the present value of money.
Mr Hugh Dalton
, Bishop Auckland
The Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, which became law only last February, substantially improved the rates of increase authorised by the Act of 1944. I can hold out no hopes of further concessions.
Mr William Brown
, Rugby
is the Financial Secretary aware that, although it is quite true that the 1947 Act somewhat improved the position of pensioners because of the amount of increase given to them both under that Act and under earlier Acts, it still leaves them worse off than before the war, because of the great increase in the cost of living; and does he think that is right treatment for old servants of the Crown?
Mr Hugh Dalton
, Bishop Auckland
This matter was discussed in the House—the hon. Gentleman was amongst those who took part—and the decision of the House was that the Act as amended was just and fair in all circumstances. I can hold out no hope whatever of reopening the matter.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
