Orders of the Day — Budget Proposals and Economic Situation

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 18 April 1956.

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Photo of Mr Thomas Brown Mr Thomas Brown , Ince 12:00, 18 April 1956

I quite agree. I know that there is that difficulty, and it is not always understood by people of the non-mining fraternity.

It is not my intention to develop all the aspects of the extra shift question, but it has its effects on coal production. We know that the maintenance of machines is extremely difficult in mining because the machines are working six days a week. These machines are not like the machines in a factory, because, to a very large degree, in the mines the operator cannot see what he is doing, or should I say he has great difficulty in doing his job.

I want to direct one or two criticisms at the Budget. I listened all day yesterday to the debate and have done so today, and it seems to me that we have been rambling round the sterling area and the dollar area; we have travelled from Chile to Peru and to places on the Continent. I want to bring the Committee a little nearer home. The effect which the Budget will have upon the old-age pensioners and lower-income groups will be tremendous, and it would reflect the failure of the Government to consider the economic and social conditions of the old people.

I do not know whether the Chancellor gave any thought to what has been happening in the last few weeks. I do not know whether his information bureau has been telling him what has been taking place. The hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) knows very well, because he has told me about this. There have been meetings in his constituency within recent months calling the Government's attention to the inadequacy of the basic pension, which has been undermined by the rising prices of food, coal and light. A few weeks ago there was a large national conference in the Central Hall, London, and since then two influential and responsible deputations have met the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to point out to him the effect which rising prices have had on old-age pensioners and those in the lower-income groups.

The first deputation was on 16th March and the second was on 11th April. Both deputations desired to draw the Government's attention to the economic and social conditions prevailing in the homes of the old-age pensioners and people in the lower-income groups. They were promised that sympathetic consideration would be given to the points which they had raised.

If I desired to detain the Committee I could go through the budgets which I have here, showing the effect which the high cost of living is having upon the old-age pensioners. Before the Budget they were called upon to meet the increased cost of bread consequent upon the removal of part of the bread subsidy. In September, they will again he called upon to pay more for bread, because the Chancellor yesterday announced the removal of the remaining £12 million of the bread subsidy. Furthermore, they will have to meet the increased cost of milk, the price of which will rise in July. That will be three increases within a few months—on bread, on milk, and then again on bread. In September, the price of a loaf will be the highest ever recorded in this country.

The argument may be advanced from the Government Front Bench that wages have increased, and I quite agree that industrial workers are able to put forward strong and logical arguments why their wages should be increased. But has it dawned upon the Government that old-age pensioners cannot do that? What a tragedy it is that in the twentieth century old folk who have served their day and generation and have given of their best to industry, commerce and the vocation in which their lot was cast should find, in the eventide of life, that they have to organise themselves to try to secure from the Government what the Government should give them with a generous hand. I cannot develop that argument now, as time will not permit.

I want to plead with the Government at least to give some consideration to the tobacco concession. I have used these arguments before and I use them again. I understand that the increase in the price of tobacco will be 2d. or 2¼d. per ounce for the lower grade tobacco, and that the increase in the price of a packet of cigarettes will also be 2d. No one, whatever his politics may be and whatever his studies of economics may be, will deny the old-age pensioner or someone in the lower-income group the right to a smoke. Men, and women too, have been enjoying that right for many years, and who will deny them that right?

The Government's attitude on this subject in the Budget has, as we would say in Lancashire, just about "put the tin hat on it." That is what we say when we are reaching the limit. I think that the Chancellor would be well advised, in the interests of goodwill towards these old folk, to increase the value of the 2s. 4d. coupon which the old folk get for one ounce of tobacco and cigarettes a week and make it 2s. 6d. One hon. Member opposite suggested something like that.