§ 9. Miss Elaine Burtonasked the Minister of National Insurance how many old age pensioners were in receipt of old age pensions at the last convenient date; and how many of this number were in receipt of joint pensions as man and wife.
§ Miss BurtonCan the right hon. Gentleman give any general idea as to how great a proportion of the total number is made up of married old age pensioners?
§ Mr. PeakeThis is rather complicated by the fact that the hon. Lady's Question includes, as I understand it, not only retirement pensioners, but also non-contributory old age pensioners. It would be preferable if the hon. Lady would study the rather elaborate statistics which I am circulating and then, perhaps, put down another Question.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The available information is as follows for the end of September, 1951:
§ Retirement and Contributory Old Age Pensions.
| (1) Men | 1,475,000 |
| About 70,000 of the men pensioners were receiving an increase of pension for a dependent wife under 60. | |
| (2) Women receiving pension by virtue of the husband's insurance | 750,000 |
| (3) Women receiving pension on their own insurance | 825,000 |
| (4) Widows receiving pension by virtue of their husband's insurance | 1,175,000 |
| 4,225,000 | |
| Non-Contributory Pensions | 400,000 |
| Of which 45,000 are paid to married women. |