§ 62. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual cost in each of the next 10 years of a temporary scheme to increase the old age pension at 65 to £1 for single persons and 30s. a week for married men, conditional on retirement from work, assuming that the whole cost is borne by the Government?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEIf the suggested extra pension were limited to insured persons who were over the age of 65 at the time the scheme came into operation, but were payable to all such persons who were available for work, whether then actually in employment or not, it is estimated, on reasonable assumptions as to the number of persons who would accept the conditions, that in the first year the scheme might add about £15,000,000 to the present cost of old age pensions. A considerable amount of labour would be involved in working out the figures for a series of years, but it is estimated that after 10 years the cost would have fallen to about £6,000,000. While continuing to diminish, it would not, however, disappear for at least another 20 years.
§ Sir B. FALLEIs 30s. a week a living wage for old people?
§ Mr. SHEPHERDCan my hon. Friend say what would be the net cost if the saving in unemployment benefit were deducted?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI am afraid I cannot give that figure out of
§ would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd) on 9th July, 1929, of which I am sending him a copy. No further land has been transferred under the arrangement since that date. As regards particulars of the property accepted, I will circulate these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the particulars:
§ my head, but if my hon. Friend will put a question down, I will have the matter looked into.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWould not the hon. Gentleman consider bringing these poor old people up to a semi-human standard of life?