49. Mr.T.THOMSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government propose to remove the means-limit disqualifications from all existing old age pensioners and from those who have become pensioners under the Acts of 1908 to 1924?
Mr. GUINNESSI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 7th May to a similar question by the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle).
Mr. THOMSONAre we to assume, from that answer, that it is only in the case of insured persons coming on to old age pensions that the means limit is abolished?
§ 54. Sir ROBERT NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost of granting to all persons at present receiving an old age pension the full 10s. without any deduction?
Mr. GUINNESSIt would be impossible to disregard means limits for existing pensioners and to maintain them for future pensioners (other than those who will come under the new Insurance proposals). The cost of abolishing the means limit would be about £15,000,000 a year to commence with, and larger sums in later years.
§ 73. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health whether, concerning old age pensions granted by local committees which are afterwards made the subject of appeal by the local pensions officer, in the cases where the decision arrived at confirms the position and recommendation of the local committee, pensions are payable from the date on which they were granted by the local committee?
§ Sir K. WOODIf on appeal to the central authority a claim is allowed, the pension is payable as from the first Friday after the receipt of the original claim or from the first Friday after the claimant becomes entitled to a pension, whichever is the later.