§ MR. LIDDELL (Down W.)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether
† See (4) Debates, cliv., 291.606 he will cause inquiries to be made with a view of ascertaining what annual charge would be imposed on the Imperial Exchequer were old-age pensions of 5s. a week granted to all persons Over seventy, and whether he will take into consideration the feasibility of conferring old-age pensions upon persons over seventy, thus benefiting a smaller class of the population, though possibly at an earlier date than would be possible were the old-age pensions to be conferred at the age of sixty-five.(Answered by Mr. Asquith.) At the last census the number of persons aged seventy or over enumerated was 1,205,069. It would therefore require over £15,500,000 to provide pensions of 5s. a week. I have nothing to add to the statements I have already made on the subject in this House, except that no aspect of the question will be lost sight of.