HC Deb 23 March 1939 vol 345 cc1442-3
37. Mr. J. Hall

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in Stepney who are recipients of old age pensions; and the number of such persons who are also in receipt of public assistance committee allowances?

Mr. Elliot

I regret that the information desired is not available. The records of old age pensioners are not kept on a territorial basis, and the returns made to my Department by public assistance authorities of the number of persons in receipt of poor relief do not contain separate particulars for parts of an administrative county.

Mr. Hall

Is it possible for the right hon. Gentleman to reply to the latter part of the question?

Mr. Elliot

No, Sir.

40. Mr. Fleming

asked the Minister of Health the number of old age pensioners and pensioned widows in Manchester, who also receive help from the public assistance committee?

Mr. Elliot

On 1st January, 1939, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 6,475 old age pensioners and 1,747 widow pensioners in receipt of poor relief in the city of Manchester.

Mr. Fleming

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the last financial year these old age pensioners and widow pensioners who have had to go on public assistance cost Manchester rates an extra £183,000a year, and, in view of that, will he take steps to see that these people are paid decent pensions?

63. Mr. Sutcliffe

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the cost of raising contributory old age pensions for widows to 15s. per week, after making allowance for such saving as might be expected to result in expenditure by public assistance committees?

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Euan Wallace)

I assume that the pensioners to whom my hon. Friend is referring are those widows who are aged over 65. The additional cost involved in increasing pensions by 5s. a week to widows between 65 and 70 is at present about £3,000,000 a year. With regard to widows aged over 70 who are in receipt of an old age pension by virtue of the provisions of the Contributory Pensions Act, I regret that the records of old age pensioners over 70 do not distinguish those who are widows or provide data on which a reliable estimate could be formed of the numbers who would be affected by my hon. Friend's proposal.