HC Deb 16 April 1962 vol 658 cc11-2
12. Mr. B. Taylor

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the number of retirement pensioners in the Mansfield area receiving supplementation from the National Assistance Board.

Mrs. Thatcher

At the end of March, 1962, the number of National Assistance supplements to retirement pension in the area served by the National Assistance Board's office in Mansfield, which extends considerably beyond the town, was 2,995.

18. Mr. Ross

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state, as a percentage, the number of pensioners who on retirement had earned an addition to their pensions by delaying retirement beyond the statutory age in 1951 and 1961, respectively.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Of all pensions awarded in the year to 30th June, 1961, 37 per cent. included increments; the corresponding figure for 1951 was 17 per cent.

Mr. Ross

The Minister will remember that last week he expressed a certain measure of satisfaction that there was more or less stability in relation to the number of pensioners drawing National Assistance? Is it not surprising that despite this considerable increase in additional earnings, we still have the same number, and does not this point to an inadequacy of the present pension?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

No. It points to the steady improvement in the real value of the National Assistance scales.

25. Mrs. Cullen

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the number of retirement pensioners in Scotland who were in receipt of a weekly supplement from the National Assistance Board at the end of September and December, 1961 and March, 1962.

Mrs. Thatcher

The number of National Assistance supplements to retirement pension in Scotland at the dates given were, respectively, 79,779, 81,062 and 81,855.

Mrs. Cullen

Does the hon. Lady appreciate that the old people on National Assistance are very much worse off than they were a year ago? The things which have come down in price in the Budget are not the sort of things that old people buy. I do not know who does the shopping for hon. Members opposite, but can they imagine an old woman going out to buy a cabbage for 1s. 6d. or a turnip for a 1s., or a tomato for 6d.? How do they expect old-age pensioners to be able to pay for these things?

Mrs. Thatcher

The number in Scotland on National Assistance at the latest date is very considerably less than the number on National Assistance in March, 1961. As the hon. Lady is aware, the scale rates are not by any means the whole of the story. Taking an average single householder of retirement age, the average income is just over £4 and not 53s. 6d.