Old Age Pensions

HC Deb 20 October 1942 vol 383 cc1849-50W

51. Mr. McNeil

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the possibility of issuing all old age pensions, contributory and non-contributory, and the supplementation of such pensions through one agency, thus avoiding the waste of money and personnel involved in the existing procedure?

Sir K. Wood

Yes, Sir. While it has not been found practicable to give effect to this proposal in its full scope the following arrangements have been made with

Mr. T. Smith

The cost of the guaranteed wage for shifts lost in these two months was approximately £220,000 and the commercial value of coal lost may be taken at roughly £350,000; but I am not in a position to say with any precision in what degree the payments of guaranteed wage were due to failures whether on the part of owners, or of mineworkers, or to causes outside the control of the mining industry.