§ 37. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of National Insurance if he will state, to the nearest convenient date, the total number in receipt of old age pensions; the total amounts received; and the same figures for the Boroughs of West Ham and Edmonton, respectively.
§ Mr. SteeleAt 5th July, 1948, there were in payment about 4,150,000 contributory old age pensions and 450,000 non-contributory old age pensions, at an estimated weekly cost of approximately £5 million. I regret that separate figures for the boroughs of Edmonton and West Ham are not available.
§ 38. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Minister of National Insurance if he will state, for the most. convenient week, the total number of family allowances that were paid and cash received by recipients; and the same figures for the Boroughs of West Ham and Edmonton.
§ Mr. SteeleAt 25th October, 1948, approximately 2,850,000 families were 1371 receiving family allowances in respect of 4,530,000 children in Great Britain. This represents a weekly payment of rather over £1,100,000. I regret that separate figures for the Boroughs of West Ham and Edmonton are not available.