§ Mr. ROGERS (Wiltshire, Devizes)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the net cost to the Old-Age Pension Fund if aged persons in receipt of outdoor relief were included in the scheme and a payment equivalent to the cost to the rates of their maintenance was paid by the guardians into the Pension Fund instead of being distributed to the persons concerned.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The total additional cost involved by giving pensions to persons over seventy who are in receipt of outdoor relief is estimated at £2,250,000 per annum. The value of the outdoor relief given to such persons is estimated at £1,470,000. Consequently the net additional cost to the Exchequer involved by my hon. friend's suggestion would be about £780,000. My hon. friend will bear in mind that these figures must be regarded as approximate estimates only, and not as precise calculations.
§ Mr. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the fact that many aged persons will feel keenly their present exclusion from the Old-Age Pension Fund, and that in many cases sons and daughters would gladly provide their aged parents with a home provided they had the necessary 57 sustenance for them; and if he will consider if something could be done for such persons without unduly pressing on I national finance.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) If, as I infer, my hon. friend desires that the benefits of the present scheme should be extended to certain classes of persons under the age of seventy, I am afraid that the suggestion is not practicable.