Old-Age and Retirement Pensions

HC Deb 10 May 1954 vol 527 c850

42. Mr. H. Hynd

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many old-age pensions are being paid in Accrington; and how many of them are being supplemented by National Assistance.

Mr. Peake

I regret that separate figures for Accrington are not available.

44. Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of old-age and retirement pensions; the annual cost of these pensions; and the estimated annual rate of increase.

Mr. Peake

There are at present about 4,300,000 retirement pensioners. The cost of their pensions is now about £350 million a year, and it will increase on average by about 2¾ per cent, annually.

Sir H. Williams

Does that include old-age pensioners who are a charge on the Treasury Estimate?

Mr. Peake

No, Sir. This does not include non-contributory old-age pensioners. The annual cost of the these pensions is about £19 million a year, and that figure is going down steadily.