§ 1. Mr. Simmonsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of 1914–18 war pensioners 40 per cent. disabled and aged 58 to 64 years who died during the past two years.
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)It is estimated that during the two years ended 31st March, 1957, there were about 3,900 deaths among 1914 war pensioners whose disablement was assessed at 40 per cent. or more and who were aged 58 to 64 years.
§ 2. Mr. Simmonsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will, in response to the recent requests he has received from representative organisations, give further consideration to the possibility of lowering the age for eligibility for the age allowance in order to give aid in time for all the ageing and severely disabled survivors of the 1914–18 war.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo, Sir. I think that in its present form this allowance, which is not of course restricted to participants in the 1914–18 war, fulfils the purpose of concentrating additional help where on grounds of age it is most needed, and I doubt whether its extension to lower age groups, as suggested, should be given priority over other needs in the war pensions field.
§ Mr. SimmonsWill the Minister agree that the figures he gave in answer to Question No. 1 show that there is a rather high incidence of death between the ages of 58 and 64?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNaturally any deaths in this category are to be regretted, but the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that any allowance, the essence of which is that it is paid in respect of age, must necessarily be missed by some people who, whatever line of demarcation one selects, die before reaching that age. I am afraid that is inherent in this type of allowance.