§ 51. Mr. GORDON MACDONALDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the cost of pensions to blind persons; and what would be the increased cost if the age limit was reduced to 40 years of age?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThe present annual cost of pensions under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, is approximately £570,000. This does not include the amounts drawn by blind persons under the Contributory Pensions and Old Age Pensions Acts. It is estimated that a reduction of the age limit to 40 would increase the cost to the Exchequer by about £150,000.