§ 16. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance his estimate of the annual cost of the late entrants who will qualify for retirement pensions next year; and if he will make a statement.
§ 6. Sir K. Josephasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many late-age entrants will start drawing retirement pensions in July, 1958; how many of these are dependent wives; and what will be the estimated annual cost to the National Insurance Fund of this new liability.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt is estimated that about 425,000 late age entrants will start drawing retirement pensions in July, 1958, of whom about 115,000 will be married women qualifying for pensions on their husbands' insurance, and some 15,000 men will be able to receive an increase in the rate of their pensions for a dependent wife under age 60. The cost of these pensions will amount to about £40 million a year initially.
§ Mr. GowerIs my right hon. Friend able to state approximately how many people of retirement age will be wholly without retirement pensions after these arrangements have been completed? As, presumably, the numbers of such people must be relatively small, would it now be possible for my right hon. Friend to consider anew their position?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterMy answer to the first part of the Question is, "Not without notice." The second part, therefore, does not at this moment arise.