§ Mr. Lipsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many old age pensioners there are whose wives are not yet eligible 1475W for pension; and what the cost would be if their wives were now given the pension?
§ Captain WallaceThe number of contributory old age pensioners whose wives have not reached the age at which they themselves would be eligible for pension is estimated to be somewhat in excess of 250,000. The immediate cost of granting the contributory pension to these wives would exceed £6½ millions a year and would rise to over £8 millions in 10 years.
As regards non-contributory old age pensions, I regret there is no information available as to the number of pensioners whose wives are ineligible and the particulars could only be obtained by an examination of the recorded particulars of every old age pensioner.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation enacting pensions at 60 years of age, the raising of the school-leaving age to 16 years of age, with an allowance for children at school and a regulation that no employer be allowed to engage boys or girls under 16 years of age, and instituting a 40-hour week with holidays with pay, as steps towards the reduction of the ranks of the unemployed?
§ Captain WallaceNo, Sir. The cost of these proposals would, in my right hon. Friend's opinion, imperil the financial stability of the State, and be more likely to increase than to reduce the numbers of the unemployed.
§ Sir R. Clarryasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the annual cost to the Exchequer of an additional 5s. per week to pensioners under the Old Age Pensions Act; to pensioners under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act; and the respective cost of a grant by the Exchequer to the public assistance committees representing the first 5s. per week in each case of relief given by the committees?
§ Captain WallaceThe additional cost at the present time of increasing by 5s. the pensions payable under the Old Age Pensions Act to all old age pensioners of 70 years of age and over would be about £25 millions. The cost of a similar increase in Contributory Old Age Pensions1476W payable from age 65 to 70 and in Widows' Pensions would be a further £22 millions. No accurate answer to the last part of the question can be given as a proportion of pensioners in receipt of public assistance are no doubt receiving less than 5s. a week in relief. There are, however, in Great Britain about 260,000 old age pensioners and 70,000 widows in receipt of relief, and the annual cost of paying 5s. a week to local authorities in respect of each of them would be approximately £4¼ millions. If the making of such a grant were to cause relief up to 5s. a week to be more freely given, this figure would, of course, be proportionately increased.