§ 33. Mr. GEORGE HALLasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of married women between the ages of 65 and 70 are refused old age pensions under the provisions of the Contributory Pensions Act because their husbands, who are insured persons, are over 70 years of age before January of next year; and, as this provision is causing great hardship, will the Government so amend this Act as to entitle these persons to claim their pension at 65 years of age?
§ Sir K. WOODI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a similar question addressed to the Prime Minister by the hon. Member for Elland (Mr. Robinson).
§ 61. Mr. RILEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of persons in England and Wales over 70 years of age who are disqualified to receive the full pension of 10s. per week owing to the means qualification which applies to uninsured persons; and what would be the approximate annual cost to remove the means limit at present applying to such persons?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel)The following figures relate to Great Britain, as there is no separate Vote for Old Age Pensions in England and Wales. The estimated number of persons over 70 who were not in receipt of pensions at the full rate on 30th September, 1927, was 508,000, of whom, about 24,000 were in receipt of partial pensions. The removal of the means limit would, therefore, impose upon the Exchequer an immediate further liability of £13 millions, growing by about £300,000 a year with the increase in the aged population.