§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Health the number of widows receiving a widow's pension on 31st December by reason of their having children under 14, and the value of such pensions; the total number of widows in respect of whom pensions were being paid on that date, and the value of such pensions; the number of children in respect at whom children's allowances were being paid on 31st December, and the value of such allowances; the number of orphans in respect of whom allowances were being paid on that date, and the value of such allowances; the number of old age pensioners between 65 and 70 receiving the old age pension under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act on 31st Decem- 961W ber, together with the value of such pensions; and the number of pensions payable under the 1908 and 1924 Acts by reason of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act to persons over 70, and the value of these pensions?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe following particulars showing the position on 31st December, 1928, relate to England and Wales: 70,920 widows of men who died before the commencement of the Contributory Pensions Act, whose title depended on there being children under the age of 14, were drawing pensions at a cost of £35,460 a week; the total number of widows in receipt of pensions was 207,351, at a cost of £103,675 10s. a week: allowances were being paid for 223,311 children at a cost of £44,925 a week: orphans' pensions were being paid for 12,792 orphans at a cost of £4,797 a week: 475,808 persons between the age of 65 and 70 were drawing old age pensions at a cost of £237,904 a week and 290,413 persons over 70 were drawing old age pensions by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, at a cost of £145,207 10s. a week.