HC Deb 17 June 1937 vol 325 cc546-9
36 and 37. Mr. Sexton

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many women 60 to 64 years of age, being wives of 65-year old pension recipients under the Contributory Pensions Act, there were in Durham County at 31st December, 1936; and how many of such women were in receipt of public assistance;

(2) how many women 55 to 59 years of age, being wives of 65-year old pension recipients under the Contributory Pensions Act, there were in Durham County at 31st December, 1936; and how many of such women were in receipt of public assistance?

38 and 39. Mr. R. J. Taylor

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many women 60 to 64 years of age, being wives of 65-years old age pensions recipients under the Contributory Pensions Act, there were in Northumberland County at 31st December, 1936; and how many of such were in receipt of public assistance;

(2) how many wives 55 to 59 years of age, being wives of 65-years old age pension recipients under the Contributory Pensions Act there were in Northumberland County at 31st December, 1936; and how many of such women were in receipt of public assistance?

The Minister of Health (Sir Kingsley Wood)

I regret that the information asked for is not available in my Department.

42. Mr. Dunn

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that where a man joins His Majesty's Forces and marries before he is 26 years of age no marriage allowances are paid; that in many cases the wives of soldiers so married are now chargeable to public assistance committees; and whether any representations have been made to him on this matter, and, if so, by whom, and what is the nature of his reply?

Sir K. Wood

Yes, Sir. From time to time instances have been brought to my notice of wives of soldiers who have married under the age of 26 seeking public assistance. Representations on the matter have been made to me in recent months by two local authorities. I have informed them that while the question of the age qualification for marriage allowances was not one for me, I was transmitting a copy of their representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

Mr. T. Williams

May I ask whether this regulation is not now impossible in view of the declining population?

Miss Wilkinson

Is there any claim against the board for the amount?

Mr. Gallacher

Will not the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the War Office?

46. Mr. Batey

asked the Minister of Health the number of unemployed in receipt of Poor Law relief who have been refused by the Unemployment Assistance Board, giving the figures separately for Great Britain and the county of Durham up to the latest available date?

Sir K. Wood

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

48. Mr. Kelly

asked the Minister of Health the number of men and women in receipt of old age pensions in Rochdale who also have their pensions augmented by relief from public assistance?

Sir K. Wood

The number of persons in Rochdale drawing old age pensions under the various Acts who were also in receipt of poor relief was 453 on 1st January last, the latest date for which figures are available. I regret that I am unable to give separate figures for men and women.

Mr. Kelly

As these old people have to go to the Poor Law authority for relief, will the Government consider increasing the amount of the old age pension?

53. Mr. Tinker

asked the Minister of Health the number at the present time of husbands who have attained the age of 65 and are getting the 10s. a week contributory pension and the wife not getting it because she has not attained the age of 65; and how many of them seek assistance from Poor Law relief?

Sir K. Wood

As I stated in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member on 28th January last, it is estimated that there are at present 250,000 wives of men in this class, and that the number is slowly increasing. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

54. Mr. Tinker

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in Lancashire who are in receipt of old age pensions and the number of those who have to appeal for assistance to Poor Law relief; and what is the highest amount in any case granted to the 10s. pensioner from this source?

Sir K. Wood

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available, as the records of old age pensioners are not kept on a geographical basis. The number of persons in the administrative county of Lancaster together with the associated county boroughs who were in receipt of old age pensions and also in receipt of poor relief on 1st January, 1937, the latest date for which figures can be given, is 30,785. The returns made to my Department do not show separately the amount of poor relief paid to those persons.