§ 66. Mr. D. SOMERVILLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will compile figures showing what would be the cost of the national revenue of full old age pensions for all people over 70 years of age whose maximum means are not greater than 20s. a week, so as to afford Members assistance in deciding whether the country can support this maximum of help to the poorer old age pensioners?
§ Captain KINGSimply to provide all pensioners whose means do not exceed 20s. a week with a pension of 10s. would involve an increased annual cost of about £700,000; but it would not be practicable to give the possessor of means of 20s. a pension of 10s. while leaving the possessor of means of 20s. 1d. without any pension. A necessary corollary would, therefore, be a sliding scale of pension for persons with means between 20s. and 30s. a week. No data exist for an exact calculation of the cost, but it would certainly be a very large sum.
§ 71. Lieut.-Commander ASTBURYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the increased cost to the Exchequer if old age pensions were granted to all those who were not liable to Income Tax?
§ Captain KINGAs my right hon. Friend informed the hon. and gallant Member for Leith on the 28th November, the Committee of 1919 estimated the additional cost for the United Kingdom of the adoption of the Income Tax exemption limit at £14,500,000 per annum. The Committee also came to the conclusion that the adoption of this limit was impracticable.
Sir J. BUTCHERAre those figures correct to-day, because since the Committee sat, the old age pensions have been increased?
§ Captain KINGThey are the latest figures I have with me.