§ Sir H. Williamsasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give particulars, in each of the last three complete years, of the amounts provided by the Exchequer under the contributory and non-contributory pension Acts, the totals to include the amounts spent in supplementary pensions.
§ Mr. AsshetonThe amounts provided by the Exchequer under the Contributory Pensions Acts in respect of the cost of pensions to persons up to the age of 70, in the years ending 31st March, 1941, 1942 and 1943 were approximately £20.5 million, £21.5 million, and £22.5 million respectively. Non-contributory old age pensions, and pensions to persons of 70 and upwards paid by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Acts are provided on the Old Age Pensions Vote. Expenditure on such pensions in the three years referred to was approximately £49.2 million, £50.3 million, and £52.2 million. The expenditure in these years on Supplementary Pensions was approximately £15.4 million, £27.2 million, and £37.6 million. It follows that the total amounts provided by the Exchequer in these years were approximately £85.1 million, £99 million and £112.3 million.