§ Major Sir B. FALLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the approximate cost of pensioning old Royal Naval pensioners, namely, men of over fifty-five when war broke out, on a new basic rate?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have been asked to answer this question. My hon. and gallant Friend is of course aware that the decision taken on No. 51 of the Jerram Committee's recommendations does ex-1706W tend the new basic rate of pension to a very considerable number of men already pensioned —nearly two-thirds, in fact. As regards the old pensioners to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers, the approximate cost of extending the new pension concessions to these men is estimated at £536,900 for the first year. In subsequent years the amount would be reduced by the wastage arising from death, and of course ultimately disappear.