HC Deb 09 June 1936 vol 313 cc27-8
49. Major STOURTON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many licences for male servants were issued for the year ended March, 1936; the total sum thus obtained, the approximate cost of collection, and the number of county and county borough councils engaged in collecting this tax?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The latest particulars of the Male Servant Licence Duty at present available are those for the year ended 31st March, 1935, and in that year the number of licences issued was 174,248 and the amount of duty paid £130,670. I have no information as to the approximate cost of collection of the duty. The number of county and county borough councils concerned is 146.

51 Mr. BENSON

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) what total weekly contribution would be necessary to allow an increase in the old age pensions of married couples to 30s. at 65 years of age and at 60 years of age, respectively;

(2) what total weekly contribution would be necessary to reduce the old age pension age to 60, and to pay pensions of 15s. per week or of £1 per week, respectively;

(3) what total weekly contribution would be necessary to pay an invalidity pension of £1 per week to males and to females, respectively, on retirement by reason of invalidity prior to pensionable age?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. W. S. Morrison)

I am afraid that it would be a formidable task to work out the addition to contributions which would be necessary to cover ultimately each of the six specified extensions of the benefits of the social insurance schemes which are involved (including alternatives) in the hon. Member's questions. Moreover, if—as I assume to be the intention—such extensions were to be brought into immediate operation, a charge would have to be imposed on the Exchequer (additional to any share which it bore of the contributions) until the time, many years ahead, when the pension list consisted entirely of persons who had contributed on the extended basis since their entrance into industry. Each of the hon. Member's suggestions involves such heavy cost as to render it impracticable, and in the circumstances I do not feel justified in incurring the expense necessary to the Calculation of the contributions.