§ Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallettasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by how much the annual cost of National Insurance retirement pensions has increased between the passing of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956, and the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe expenditure on National Insurance retirement pensions during the year ended 31st March, 1956, was approximately £432½ million and expenditure in the year ended 31st March, 1958, the latest year for which figures are available, was about £49½ million greater. The increase reflects the growth in the number of retirement pensioners as well as the cost of the higher rates of pension which began to be paid towards the end of the period.