MR. LLOYD MORGAN (Carmarthen, W.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether complaints have from time to time been made in reference to the scale of Post Office annuities, which requires that a person of 85 years of age should pay as large a sum for an annuity as a person of 80; and whether he will consider the question of so amending the table of annuities as to give to persons over 80 the advantage of a corresponding reduction in the scale of payment?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERVery few complaints have reached cither the Post Office or the National Debt Commissioners with regard to the point to which attention is called in the Question. I will consider 105 the matter, but I cannot undertake to amend the table of annuities in the manner desired. There is a difficulty about securing proof as to the age of very old people, and I am told that the chances of life are not diminished in proportion to the difference between the ages of 80 and 85. I understand that insurance companies find similar precautions necessary to prevent loss on annuities at these great ages.