§ 43. Mr. WHITEasked the Minister of Health the number of persons receiving old age pensions under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts and under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924; and the total number of pensioners of both types who were also in receipt of indoor or outdoor poor relief?
Sir H. YOUNGThe total number of such old age pensioners in England and Wales on the 31st December, 1933, was 2,042,611, of whom 169,632 were in receipt of poor relief.
§ 48. Mr. JOELasked the Minister of Health the number of widows whose pensions have been terminated in the last 12 months owing to their youngest child having reached the age of 16; whether he is aware that the termination of these pensions has caused and causes material hardship; and whether he will set on foot an inquiry into the working of this aspect of insurance?
Sir H. YOUNGThe total number of widows in England whose pensions under the Act of 1925 ceased during 1933 because their youngest child attained 16 was 5,933, but 1,813 of these widows, being over the age of 55, immediately became entitled to pensions under the Act of 1929. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I would point out that the provision which terminates widows' pensions on the youngest child reaching the age of 16 applies only to those cases in which the pensions are 1872 provided entirely at the cost of the Exchequer and no part is derived from contributions paid under the insurance scheme.
§ 49. Mr. JOELasked the Minister of Health how many widows whose pensions have terminated owing to their youngest child attaining the age of 16 re-apply for a widow's pension at the age of 55; and whether he is convinced that the knowledge that such pensions are re-issuable in the circumstances is generally known to the potential beneficiaries?
Sir H. YOUNGI regret that I am not in a position to furnish the information asked for in the first part of my hon. Friend's question. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative, and I am letting my hon. Friend have a copy of a notice which is sent to all such pensioners prior to the termination of their pensions.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes not my right hon. Friend think that 16 is too young an age, seeing that children are very helpless when they come from school under the present system of education?
58. Mr. YOUNGasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that persons in receipt of old age pensions are now being disqualified from receipt of their payments on admission to the infirm wards of public assistance institutions; and whether he will be prepared to introduce legislation to provide against this?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hore-Belisha)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, East (Brigadier-General Nation), on the 19th April, of which I am sending him a copy.