§ Mr. Leachasked the Minister without Portfolio what would be the actuarial contribution required from the unmarried woman to secure a pension of £1 at 55 years of age; and what this contribution would be if she were credited with the estimated amount paid in taxation towards the cost of benefits, such as family allowances set forth in the White Paper, to which she is the only contributor with no possibility of benefit.
§ Sir W. JowittThe further contribution required to be paid by or in respect of an unmarried woman, from the age of 16 onwards, in order to secure a pension of £1 a week from age 55 to age 60 in addition to the benefits provided for in the Government's social insurance proposals, is 1s. 2d. a week, allowing for the Government subsidy of one-sixth. As regards the second part, it would be quite impossible to adjust the burden of taxation on individuals by reference to the varying extent to which they may expect to enjoy the services provided from it. Anyhow, I feel confident that the whole community—including bachelors and1278W spinsters—will benefit by any improvement in children's health and physique.