§ 3. Commander Viscount CURZONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many pre-war pensioners served during the present War; how many pre-war pensioners did not serve during the War; how many pre-war pensioners will receive no increase in their pension; how many pensioners are above the age of fifty-five; and what would be the cost of granting the revised scale of pensions to all pensioners now on the rolls?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)Approximately 11,000 pre-war long service pensioners have served during the War; 19,500 have not served. Some of these latter, however, will, being under fifty-five when war broke out, get the increased basic rate under Decision No. 51, page 8, Command Paper 149. Of the total number of long-service pensioners now on the roll, namely, about 34,000, about 14,800 are ineligible under the decision in reference for the improved basic rate. As I stated in a reply on the 2nd June, the approximate cost of extending the new pension concessions to these men is estimated at £536,900 for the first year. In subsequent 1979 years the amount would be reduced by the wastage arising from death, and, of course, ultimately disappear.