PENSIONERS IN INSTITUTIONS (POCKET MONEY). (Hansard, 23 November 1937)

§ Sir P. Harris
asked the Minister of Health what would be the estimated cost 1049W of providing old-age pensioners in public assistance institutions with pocket money; whether he can state approximately how many old-age pensioners are in such institutions; and whether he will consider introducing amending legislation to remove any doubt as to the legality of paying pocket money to these old people?

§ Mr. Bernays
The number of old age pensioners in public assistance institutions in England and Wales is about 24,000, but the total number of potential pensioners, that is persons who might be receiving a pension if they were not in an institution, is estimated at nearly 60,000. On that basis the cost of providing such persons with pocket money at the rate of 2s. a week would be about £300,000 a year. As regards the last part

The following table shows the total numbers of persons, aged 14 years and over, registered as unemployed, at a date in September of the years 1931–1936, at Employment Exchanges which wholly or partly serve the Special Areas as defined in the Special Areas (Development and Improvement) Act, 1934.

Date. Durham and Tyneside. West Cumberland. South Wales and Monmouth. South-West Scotland. All Special Areas.

21st September, 1931 191,318 13,658 157,852 117,795 480,623

26th September, 1932 210,055 14,588 179,436 123,437 527,516

25th September, 1933 193,670 14,608 161,212 108,044 477,534

27th September, 1934 176,119 12,966 146,407 93,795 429,287

23rd September, 1935 171,727 11,773 157,683 88,048 429,231

21st September, 1936 128,721 12,460 141,771 71,304 354,256

§ Mr. Ridley
asked the Minister of Labour how many persons had been registered as unemployed for a period of not less than 12 months in each of the Special Areas at the most recent date for which the figures are available; and how many persons were so registered at the

Statistics showing the duration of unemployment are available only in respect of persons applying for insurance benefit or unemployment allowances. The Table below shows the numbers of such applicants who, at a date in October of each of the years 1935, 1936 and 1937, had been continuously on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Special Areas for twelve months or more. Figures for corresponding dates in earlier years have not been compiled.

Special Area. 21st October, 1935. 26th October, 1936. 18th October, 1937.^*

Durham and Tyneside … 57,537 43,297 34,819

West Cumberland … 4,556 5,249 3,870

South Wales and Monmouthshire … 56,578 51,071 36,501

South-West Scotland … 26,970 20,437 17,552

All Special Areas … 145,641 120,054 92,742

^* Note.—Owing to the increase in the numbers of applicants for unemployment allowances at the second appointed day under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934 (namely, 1st April, 1937), the figures for 18th October, 1937, are not strictly comparable with those for the two earlier dates.

1050W
of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 11th November to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Cardiff South (Captain A. Evans).

The following table shows the total numbers of persons, aged 14 years and over, registered as unemployed, at a date in September of the years 1931–1936, at Employment Exchanges which wholly or partly serve the Special Areas as defined in the Special Areas (Development and Improvement) Act, 1934.
Date.	Durham and Tyneside.	West Cumberland.	South Wales and Monmouth.	South-West Scotland.	All Special Areas.
21st September, 1931	191,318	13,658	157,852	117,795	480,623
26th September, 1932	210,055	14,588	179,436	123,437	527,516
25th September, 1933	193,670	14,608	161,212	108,044	477,534
27th September, 1934	176,119	12,966	146,407	93,795	429,287
23rd September, 1935	171,727	11,773	157,683	88,048	429,231
21st September, 1936	128,721	12,460	141,771	71,304	354,256

Statistics showing the duration of unemployment are available only in respect of persons applying for insurance benefit or unemployment allowances. The Table below shows the numbers of such applicants who, at a date in October of each of the years 1935, 1936 and 1937, had been continuously on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Special Areas for twelve months or more. Figures for corresponding dates in earlier years have not been compiled.
Special Area.		21st October, 1935.	26th October, 1936.	18th October, 1937.^*
Durham and Tyneside	…	57,537	43,297	34,819
West Cumberland	…	4,556	5,249	3,870
South Wales and Monmouthshire	…	56,578	51,071	36,501
South-West Scotland	…	26,970	20,437	17,552
All Special Areas	…	145,641	120,054	92,742
^* Note.—Owing to the increase in the numbers of applicants for unemployment allowances at the second appointed day under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934 (namely, 1st April, 1937), the figures for 18th October, 1937, are not strictly comparable with those for the two earlier dates.