§ 63. Mr. LESLIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing legislation to amend the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, so as to remove the anomaly in the calculation of the means of claimants for old age and blind persons' pensions under Section 4 of the Act, whereby the yearly value of property is taken, after excluding the first £25, as 5 per cent. in respect of the next £375 and as 10 per cent. in respect of all capital value in excess of £400, while in fact, owing to the present cheapness of money, the amount actually received by claimants and pensioners is under 5 per cent. as in the present rate of interest on National Savings Certificates?
§ 64. Mr. SORENSENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is considering, or will consider, appropriate amendments to the Old Age Pensions Acts, as suggested in the resolutions sent to him from the Leyton Local Pensions Committee, and from other pensions committees, respecting the need to increase the maximum allowance for old age pension purposes, and urging the removal of anomalies in the calculation of the means of claimants?
§ Captain MARGESSONThe Government cannot see their way to introduce legislation to increase the means limit for old age pensions purposes. As regards the assessment of means, I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12th December last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Knutsford (Brigadier-General Makins).
§ 65. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what additional cost would be incurred by raising the present old age pension from 10s. to 15s. per week?
§ Captain MARGESSONI have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18th February last to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. D. L. Davies).
§ Mr. MANDERIs it true that on this question, as on so many other questions, the Government are now all at sea?
§ 66. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what additional cost would be incurred by 557 granting the pension to all women above 60 years of age but under 65 whose husbands are in receipt of pension?
§ Captain MARGESSONThe estimated cost of paying an old age pension to the wife of a pensioner when she attains 60 instead of, as at present, when she attains 65 is £3,750,000 a year at the present time, rising to £4,750,000 a year in 10 years time. This estimate does not include the consequential extensions if the proposal were adopted and which would probably more than double the expenditure.
§ Mr. TINKERWill the hon. and gallant Member inform his chief that if he would grant this pension it would be money well spent?