Mrs Hart and the over-80s
LETTERS
From: E. Allen, Antony Jay, Mrs Dorothy Clegg, P. D. Godfrey Bird, Yvonne Baginsky, Maurice G. K. Pierson, A. J. C. Kerr, Douglas Brown, Princess Yuri Galitzine, Lawrence D. Hills, Miss Elizabeth Hare, J. E. Harrison, Robin Bousfield, Professor C. A. W. Manning, Donald Moore.
Sir: On 15 July I wrote to Mrs. Judith Hart, the Minister of Social Security, with reference to her speech at the rally of disabled people in Trafalgar Square on 14 July. She there said 'that it was time we enlarged our thoughts on what a government contributory insurance system really meant' and that 'the fact that most disabled housewives have not contributed to insurance payments is not a good enough reason for them to be cut off from assistance.'
In my letter I told her that 'the over-eighties were not allowed to join the scheme and there- fore could not pay and were refused [assistance] for this very reason: I asked her 'Why this difference in your outlook?' I also added 'as I am over eighty I am a bit interested.'
I wrote to her again on the 22 July and asked her for 'the courtesy of a reply' to my letter of the 15 July. But again I have had no reply.
Apparently the over-eighties are of no importance.
Previous page
