HL Deb 13 March 1962 vol 238 c106

2.37 p.m.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of those retirement pensioners who have no private means or other form of pension or allowance from private sources are in receipt of National Assistance.]

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, I regret that this information is not available. As the noble Lord may be aware, no means test is applicable to retirement pensions.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his reply. I am afraid it means that my faith in the Government's omniscience has been rather shaken to-day. But I should, if I may, like to put a supplementary question and ask whether he can tell me what number of retirement pensioners receive National Assistance now.

LORD DENHAM

Yes, my Lords. In September, 1961, about 1,044,000 retirement pensioner households—that is, single pensioners and married couples with pension—were receiving supplementary allowances from the National Assistance Board. That is 22.6 per cent. of the total.

LORD AMULREE

I thank the noble Lord.