asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware of the plight of a very large number of retired home assistance officers whose pensions are entirely inadequate to meet the increased cost of living; that some of their pensions are as low as 6/- per week and that a very considerable number of them are under £1 per week; and whether he will take the necessary powers to enable a bonus to be paid to these ex-local authority servants, all of whom have given long and faithful service when in office.

The reply is in the negative. So far as the information in my Department goes there would be very few instances in rural areas where persons occupying the post of home assistance officers were entirely dependent upon the remuneration of that occupation.