§ 12. Brigadier Petoasked the Minister of Pensions what was the total number of pensions in payment on 31st December, 1920; and how many pensioners among that number had, on 3rst December, 1947, been granted in respect of post disability marriage, wife allowance and children's allowances, respectively.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopApproximately 1,175,000 disablement pensions were in payment at 31st December, 1920. At 31st December, 1947, over 164,000 wives' allowances and 118,000 children's allowances in respect of the 1914–18 war had been granted as the result of the provision which recognised for pension purposes the wives and children of post injury marriages. It is not possible to 194 say without an examination of 350,000 ledger sheets and nearly 170,000 files how many pensioners who benefited by the new provision were in receipt of pension in 1920. My right hon. Friend is afraid he could not justify the labour which such a task would involve.
§ 13. Brigadier Petoasked the Minister of Pensions what was the number of and annual cost of allowances to wives and children, respectively, of disability pensioners on 31st December, 1920, and 31st December, 1947.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIt is estimated that on 31st December, 1920, allowances were being paid in respect of approximately 406,000 wives and 865,000 children of disabled pensioners at an annual cost of £3,900,000 and £5,140,000 respectively. On 31st December, 1947, the corresponding numbers for both World Wars were 528,000 and 456,000 and the annual cost was about £5,272,000 and £3,248,000, respectively.