§ 47. Mr. ELLIS SMITHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the increased cost of paying 15s. per week to all old age pensioners; and what would be the cost of paying a pension of 15s. a week to all people at 60 years of age?
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONThe extra cost of increasing old age pensions to 15s. a week (including blind persons' pensions 1312 and contributory old age pensions but not including widows' pensions) would be about £32,000,000 a year at the present time. The extra cost of a universal pension of 15s. a week payable at age 60 would be about £155,000,000 a year at the present time.
§ 48. Mr. SHORTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider amending the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, to provide for an increase in the maximum allowance of earned and unearned income of applicants which is taken into account when assessing the amount of pension due?
§ 54. Mr. E. SMITHasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give consideration to the need of legislation to amend the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, to provide for an appreciable increase in the maximum allowance of income in the assessment of the amount of pension to be paid and to other suggestions dealing with pensions made by many local authorities?
§ Mr. MORRISONI would refer the hon. Members to the answer given on 14th May to the hon. Members for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) and Sedgefield (Mr. Leslie).