How does the Minister fix on the figure of £104 million?
Committee on Finance. - Appropriation Bill, 1962—Committee and Final Stages.
Sections 1 and 2 agreed to.
SECTION 3.
Question proposed: "That Section 3 stand part of the Bill."
It is the total of Sections 1 and 2.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 4 agreed to.
SECTION 5.
Question proposed: "That Section 5 stand part of the Bill."
Is not Section 5 new?
It is. No such section has appeared since 1937. I believe there was a clause in every Appropriation Bill up to 1937 dealing with the declaration to be made by pensioners. In 1937, a permanent provision was put in providing that every pensioner must sign a declaration each quarter, the declaration to be witnessed by a certain person in a certain category. That does include, which is very convenient, a bank teller; he can sign the declaration. We felt there is not much to be gained by being so restrictive in this matter and what I am now asking the House for is liberty for the Minister for Finance to make regulations changing these restrictive conditions and asking, perhaps, for a declaration once every six or once every 12 months.
Is there not some element in the receipt part which would act as an assurance that the pensioner is still alive?
He must, of course, sign his name each month, and give his address. As well as having his address, we have the fact that he is still alive.
Is this not the same as the signature he adds each month? Is that additional?
It was additional, yes. Formerly, he had to get a witness to sign certifying he was alive.
Could the Minister not deal with it by way of a standing arrangement with the bank that the bank would advise, if the pensioner had died?
I am afraid small pensioners do not bank their cheques.
No, but the bigger ones do, and that would cut down work. Admittedly the smaller ones do not bother.
Question put and agreed to.
Section 6 agreed to.
Abstracts of Schedules A and B agreed to.
Schedules A and B agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment, and received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
Will the Minister table the rules he makes, not as a statutory presentation but as a non-statutory presentation, so that they will be in the Library, if anyone wants to look at them?
Yes.
Question put and agreed to.
This is a Money Bill within the meaning of Article 22 of the Constitution.