§ 50. Mr. R. A. TAYLORasked the Minister of Health whether he proposes during the present session of Parliament, to introduce legislation to provide that wives of insured men shall be eligible for pension when their husbands attain the age of 65 years?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am afraid that I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on this matter in the present Session.
§ Mr. TAYLORHas the right hon. Gentleman any estimate of the cost of providing for the wives of such men who are over 60 years of age?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI cannot answer that question without notice.
§ 62. Mr. PHILIP OLIVERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that no benefit accrues to the holder of a savings certificate until maturity, he will consider excluding such certificates from the calculation of means in respect of non-contributory old age pensions?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCENo, Sir; the law requires that in calculating the means of a person for old age pension purposes account must be taken of the yearly value of any property belonging to that person capable of investment or profitable use, whether or not it is invested or put to profitable use by him. It follows that, whatever view is taken of an investment in savings certificates (and I do not agree with the hon. Member's premise), savings certificates cannot, under the law, be excluded from the calculation of means for the purposes of a non-contributory old age pension. But as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, means derived from savings certificates, in common with other means derived from sources other than earnings, are subject to a deduction not exceeding £39 under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924.