§ 38. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Health if he can give an estimate of the number of widows who are not in receipt of either a widow's pension or an old age pension?
§ Sir K. WOODThe answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. BATEYAre we to understand stand that the Minister of Health introduced the Contributory Pensions Bill in 1927 and did not know the number of widows who were not in receipt of pensions?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is not the question.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that my question is whether the Minister can give an estimate of the number of widows who are not in receipt of either a widow's pension or an old age pension.
§ Sir K. WOODYes.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEIf the Government cannot give these figures, how can they justify the statement that many thousands of these people have been relieved from the pressure of want?
§ Sir K. WOODThat does not arise.
§ Mr. BATEYIf the Minister of Health has the number of widows in the country, he must also have the number receiving pensions, and why cannot he give the figure?
§ Sir K. WOODI have gone carefully into this matter myself, and the answer I have given is one that has been supplied to me. I would remind hon. Members opposite that but for the Conservative Government no widows would be receiving pensions at all.
§ Mr. TAYLORDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that, when the Actuary's Report was presented to his Department, no figures were given as to the number of widows in the country?
§ Sir K. WOODThat question does not arise.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEMay we take it that the figures on the posters are unofficial?
§ 39. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Health the amount, separately, of contributions paid by employers, workmen, and the Treasury from the commencement of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Pensions Fund up to 31st March, 1929; the amount paid, separately, to widows and children, orphans and old age pensioners at 65 years of age; and the amount remaining in the fund?
§ Sir K. WOODAs the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. WESTWOODCan we have an assurance from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will not raid the surplus accumulated in that fund?
§ Following is the answer:
§ The total amount of contributions paid under the Act in England and Wales from the commencement to 31st March, 1929, was approximately:—
§ £33,250,000 by employers.
§ £31,750,000 by work-people.
§ During the same period the State contribution to the Treasury Pensions Account under Section 11 (3) of the Act was £12,000,000, but as the hon. Member is aware this contribution is applicable to the whole of Great Britain.
§ The amount of pensions paid in England and Wales during the period specified was approximately £37,220,000 made up of:
§ £21,370,000 widows' pensions (including children's allowances).
§ £790,000 orphans' pensions.
§ £15,060,000 Old Age Pensions to persons between 65 and 70 years of age.
§ With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. Wellock) on the 18th instant.
§ 43. Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Health the number of children 713 in whose cases the allowances, under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, have been extended from 14 to 16 under the condition that they attended school; and what proportion of the entire total of children with such allowances this number represents?
§ Sir K. WOODThe number of children between the ages of 14 and 16 who are in receipt of allowances or orphans' pensions under the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, because they have remained at school, is 12,498. That number is approximately 5.2 per cent. of the total number of children who are in receipt of children's allowances or orphans' pensions. These figures relate to England and Wales.
Mr. BECKETTCan the right hon. Gentleman say why it is possible for him to get these figures, when it is not possible for him to get figures as to the number of widows who cannot get pensions?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is very obvious. This question relates to the operation of the scheme.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs it the case that a child's pension is withheld if the child is absent from school, even when a medical certificate is provided?
§ Sir K. WOODI must have notice of that question. If it be a case relating to my Department—which, of course, does not deal with Scotland—I will certainly look into it.