§ MR. TIMOTHY DAVIES (Fulham)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the number of persons over seventy years of age in England, Wales (including Monmouthshire), Scotland, and Ireland; whether he can give the number of such persons in receipt of poor law relief in each part of the Kingdom; the number of claims for old-age pensions up to date; and the percentage of persons claiming old-age pensions to the population over seventy years of age in each country, deducting those who are in receipt of poor law relief.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE,) Carnarvon BoroughsThe number of persons over seventy years of age in the United Kingdom in 1908 is estimated at 898,000, in England (excluding Monmouthshire); 59,000 in Wales (including Monmouthshire); 134,000 in Scotland; and 184,000 in Ireland. Of these it is estimated that approximately 220,000 are in receipt of poor law relief in England, 16,000 in Wales (including Monmouthshire), 19,000 in Scotland, and 32,000 in Ireland. Applications for old-age pensions have been received (up to the 21st instant) from 367,197 persons in England; 23,960 in Wales, 68,785 in Scotland, and 193,138 in Ireland. The percentage of the persons claiming old-age pensions to the population over seventy years of age, after deducting those in receipt of poor law relief, is therefore, on the basis of the figures quoted above:—In England 54 per cent., in Wales 56 per cent., in Scotland 60 per cent., and Ireland 128 per cent.