§ Mr. R. J. Taylorasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can form an estimate of the total cost to the Exchequer of a provision to give to the surviving spouse of married persons who were both receiving the old-age pension a pension equal to the sum previously received by both?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThere are no accurate data as to the marital status of old age pensioners, and such estimate as could be made of the cost of the suggestion in the Question would be incomplete and would involve considerable labour. In these circumstances I fear that I should not feel justified in incurring the expense involved in making the estimate.