§ 33. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Health what is the estimated total cost of supplementary pensions under the old age and widows' pensions for the year ending March, 1945; how many are in receipt of them; what is the average amount for each person; and how much of it comes under the heading of rent allowance.
§ Mr. WillinkThe estimated cost of supplementary pensions for the year ending 31st March, 1945, is £57,000,000. At the end of December, 1944, there were approximately 1,387,000 supplementary pension cases current which covered the needs of 1,616,000 old age and widow pensioners. The average payment per case was 16s., and the average amount included in this figure for rent or the reasonable share of rent in cases where the applicant was not the householder was 6s. 5d.