§ Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the total number of persons in England in receipt of retirement pensions at the latest convenient date, the comparable number in 1948, and the annual cost of Retirement Pensions paid to persons in England at the latest convenient date and in 1948, respectively; and what is his estimate of numbers and annual cost in 1968 at present rates.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe total number of retirement pensions being paid in England at 30th September, 1957, the latest date for which figures are available, was about 4,060,000—costing about £396 million a year. The comparable figures for 31st December, 1948, were 3,480,000 and £205 million respectively. It is estimated that by 1968 the number of retirement pensioners in England will have risen to 5,430,000, at an annual cost of £690 million. The figures I now give for England are on the same basis as those I gave my hon. Friend on 17th February for Wales.