§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the numbers of old age pensioners and widows with pensions under the Contributory Pensions Acts in the first week of July, 1940, and those of non-contributory pensioners as at 31st March, 1940, respectively, in the Greenock area; how many applications for supplementary pensions were received from these pensioners; how many of these applications were granted; what was the average amount of the supplementary pensions granted; how many appeals were intimated against the determinations as regards supplementary pension; and how these appeals were disposed of?
§ Mr. E. BrownAs statistics of contributory pensions are not kept on a geographical basis I am unable to supply the information requested in the first part of the Question. There are 476 non-contributory pensioners in the Greenock area, of whom 55 are in receipt of blind pension. In the Greenock Area of the Assistance Board 1,565 applications for supplementary pensions were received up to 16th August, in 1,136 cases supplementary pensions were awarded and in 429 cases pensions were refused or the application withdrawn. Information is not available as to the average amount of supplementary pension paid in each of the Board's areas but the average for Scotland was about 8s. 9d. and I have no reason to think that the figure for Greenock would be markedly different. During the period ended 30th August, notice of appeal against the determinations was given in 50 cases. In 37 cases the Tribunal confirmed the determination of the Board's officer and in six cases a substitute determination was made by the Tribunal. The remaining seven appeals were, at that date, awaiting hearing.