HC Deb 14 March 1955 vol 538 cc923-4
7. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many single old-age pensioners are due to receive the maximum increase of 7s. 6d. per week, and how many married couples the maximum increase of 11s. per week after implementation of the National Insurance Act, 1954.

Mr. Peake

About 2¾million retirement pensioners, including wives drawing a pension on their own insurance, will receive the increase of 7s. 6d., and about 800,000 married couples will get 11s.

8. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many single old-age pensioners at the latest convenient date were in receipt of at least 7s. 6d. per week from the National Assistance Board; and how many married couples were in receipt of a minimum of 11s. from the same source.

Mr. Peake

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that the numbers asked for are not available.

Mr. Dodds

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why it is not possible to get this information? Is he not aware that we already know that at least 1,500,000 old-age pensioners who are receiving these rates from the National Assistance Board will not get the new pensions but only 2s. 6d. and 4s.?

Mr. Peake

I do not think I can accept those figures.

Mr. Dodds

Why not? The right hon. Gentleman does not know them.

Mr. Peake

The reason the figures are not available is that the Board does not maintain continuous records showing the number of persons receiving allowances of various amounts.

Mr. Gibson

Is it not a fact that the new books have been issued? Is the Minister not aware that many of us have seen them and that they indicate a very large number of cases where the increase,instead of being 7s. 6d., is 2s. 6d.? Surely the Department knows how many books it has issued and altered to that extent?

Mr. Peake

The Question asks for the number of old-age pensioners at the latest convenient date who were in receipt of at least 7s. 6d. per week from the National Assistance Board. That information is not available. The information which is published from time to time is obtained on a sample basis taken in the autumn of the year and before the new scales of Assistance came into force.