§ Mr. HAYDAYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet considered the proposal made to him by a deputation from the General Council of the Trades Union Congress on 13th May that arrangements should be made by which old age pensions could be paid to settlers leaving this country to join their families in British overseas territories; and, if so, whether any such arrangements can be made?
§ Mr. AMERYThis matter will be considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee which has been appointed to consider how far the existing provisions for old age pensions and for National Health and Unemployment Insurance tend to discourage migration from this country to the oversea Dominions and in what manner any adverse effect can best be counteracted.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in calculating the means, for old age pension purposes, of a person with in- 1837W vestments of £500 and over, the actual income accruing from investments is taken; or whether it is the practice of his Department to charge the first £350 at 5 per cent. and the remainder at 10 per cent.?
§ Mr. R. McNEILLThe method of calculating means from invested capital or other property not personally used or enjoyed is prescribed by Section 4 (1) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919. Under that enactment the first £25 of the capital value of such property is excluded from the calculation; the yearly value of the next £375 is calculated at 5 per cent.; and the yearly value of the remainder is calculated at 10 per cent. of the capital value. The means so calculated are now subject to a material reduction under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924, which provides for a deduction not exceeding £39 to be made from such part of a person's means as is not derived from earnings.