§ 56. Mr. GORDON MACDONALDasked the Minister of Health what number of persons are in receipt of old age pensions under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act; and how many of the said persons are at present in employment?
§ Mr. GREENWOODOn 31st March there were in Great Britain 1,034,368 persons over the age of 65 in receipt of old age pensions payable under or by virtue of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts. The figure includes wives entitled in right of their husbands' insurance. It is not known how many of these pensioners are at present in employment but, from the number of contribution cards received for the half-year ended December, 1928, from employed persons over the age of 65, it was estimated that 355,000 old age pensioners were in employment at some time during that period.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEDo the great mass of these people owe their pensions to the Act passed in 1925 by the late Government?
Miss LEEWill the Minister increase the amount of the old age pension so as to remove the necessity of men over 65 working?