§ 54. Mr. Messerasked the Minister of Health how many blind persons are registered in England and Wales: how many are in receipt of the blind pension; how many receiving augmentation-of-income grants from local authorities; and how many above the age of 16 are unemployable?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. R. S. Hudson)As the answer includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ On 31st March, 1936 (the latest date for which figures are available) there were 67,534 registered blind persons in England and Wales, and, of these, 22,415 between the ages of 50 and 70 were receiving an old age pension on account of blindness, while 54,675 over the age of 16 were classified as unemployable. I have no information as to the actual number of blind persons who are in receipt of financial assistance from the local authorities.