HC Deb 29 March 1956 vol 550 cc247-8W
69. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will investigate the case of the Leicestershire old-age pensioners who, because they had saved £6 more than the limit of £75 allowed under the pensions scheme, had their pension cut by 6d. a week, and to regain their full pension spent £6 of their capital; and, in view of the fall in the purchasing power of money, if he will have this saving limit substantially increased and so encourage the small savers.

1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955*
0–4 years 2,392 594 2,159 2,688 768 1,289 1,203 604 1,736
5–9 years 1,606 346 1,281 1,728 591 976 1,219 562 1,908
10–14 years 1,114 255 733 908 315 379 516 210 764
15 and over 2,654 653 1,794 2,428 935 1,258 1,600 578 1,920

DEATHS FROM POLIOMYELITIS. ENGLAND AND WALES 1947–1955
Ages at death 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955*
0–4 years 133 23 129 165 42 40 44 18 29
5–9 years 85 30 92 97 31 37 70 18 32
10–14 years 83 20 57 57 9 21 28 10 18
15 and over 406 168 379 436 135 197 196 88 190
* Provisional figures.

Miss Pitt

As there is no means limit in respect of retirement pensions, I assume my hon. Friend has in mind payments of National Assistance. I do not think the present means limits in respect of capital, which are of course fixed by Statute, are in their total effect ungenerous But as my hon. Friend has been good enough to send particulars of the individual case which he has in mind, my right hon. Friend is asking the National Assistance Board to look into it.