§ Mr. StephenI desire to present a petition, on behalf of the Sunderland Old Age Pension Association, signed by 31,000 of His Majesty's subjects in the county borough of Sunderland and district. The grievance set forth in the petition is the insufficiency of the old age pension of 10s. a week for the maintenance of life and the avoidance of hardship. The petition states:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that this honourable House will pass legislation to provide for the payment of a pension of one pound a week at the age of 60 years, or withdrawal from industry or service, to include all aged spinsters, widows, and the widows of pensioners who are under pensionable age.