§ 22 and 23. Mr. Tom Brownasked the Minister of National Insurance (1) if he will give the number of old age pensioners in receipt of supplementary pensions during the quarters ended 31st March, 30th June and 30th September, 1949, respectively; and the amount of money paid in each quarter and the average amount paid during the nine months, excluding rent allowances;
(2) if he will give the number of old age pensioners in receipt of rent allowances in the four regions, stating the number in each region separately; and the average amount paid to each person.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsAs the answer is somewhat long and contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The number of old age pensioners, including wives of pensioners, in respect of whom assistance grants in supplementation of pension were being paid was about 710,000 at the end of March, 1949, 730,000 at the end of June and 745,000 at the end of September. The September figures are distributed as follow:
| London | 152,000 |
| Rest of England | 483,000 |
| Wales | 56,000 |
| Scotland | 54,000 |
§ In practically every case the assessment included a sum for rent, except in a few cases where the pensioner was living rent free and where he was paying an inclusive charge for board and lodgings; but as the amount actually paid is a net amount arrived at after deducting the pension and 182 other resources (if any) it is not possible to allocate part of it specifically to rent. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to page 44 of the Annual Report of the National Assistance Board for 1948 which gives, in considerable detail, information about rents paid by applicants for assistance on the basis of a special inquiry made in November, 1948. It is regretted that the detailed amounts of money paid in each quarter are not available.