HC Deb 21 June 1937 vol 325 cc836-7
43. Mr. Henderson Stewart

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 214,901 old-age pensioners in England and Wales who were also in receipt of poor relief on 1st January last were single persons, and how many were married persons in households where only the wife or the husband was drawing a pension?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Bernays)

I regret that this information is not available in my Department.

Mr. Stewart

Is it not important to know whether pensioners who have to draw assistance from outside are those whose only income is a single pension and who, where they happen to be married, have only 10s. weekly coming into the household?

Mr. Bernays

If the information is not available, I cannot give it.

Mr. Whiteley

Could not the Minister of Health get that information if he applied to the various county council and borough committees?

Mr. Stewart

Will the hon. Gentleman not take steps to discover the facts concerning this important matter?