HC Deb 23 March 1964 vol 692 cc40-2W
Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many women in receipt of a widow's benefit were also in receipt of a National Assistance allowance at the latest available date; and what was the average weekly payment.

Mrs. Thatcher

98,000 in December, 1963, excluding about 4,000 widows with widow's basic pension who were receiving unemployment or sickness benefit. The average weekly payment was 24s. 8d.

Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons over pension age and not in receipt of any insurance benefit or pension were in receipt of a National Assistance allowance at the latest available date; and what was the average weekly payment to couples and single persons, respectively.

Mrs. Thatcher

123,000 in December, 1963. The average payment was 75s. 10d.; separate figures are not available for couples and single persons.

Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons over retirement age were in receipt of discretionary additions, and what was the average payment, at the latest available date.

Mrs. Thatcher

In December, 1963, there were 822,000 assistance recipients over retirement age in the assessment of whose supplementary weekly grants discretionary provision was made for special requirements. The average weekly amount so provided was 8s. 9d.

Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows in receipt of widow's benefit were also in receipt of a discretionary addition from the National Assistance Board, and what was the average payment, at the latest available date.

Mrs. Thatcher

In December, 1962, there were 44,000 widows with widow's benefit in the assessment of whose assistance grants discretionary provision was made for special requirements. The average weekly amount so provided was 8s. 6d.

Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons over retirement age were in receipt of a National Assistance allowance in respect of rent and what was the average payment; at the latest available date.

Mrs. Thatcher

In December, 1963, there were 1,098,000 householders over retirement age for whom an allowance for rent and rates was added to the appropriate scale rates in the assessment of their weekly assistance grants. There were also 133,000 people over retirement age living in other people's households. In assessing their grants, provision was made for a share of the rent of the house they were living in. The average amounts were 24s. and 10s. 8d. respectively.

Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows in receipt of widows' benefit were also in receipt of a National Assistance allowance in respect of rent, and what was the average payment, at the latest available date.

Mrs. Thatcher

In December, 1963, there were 96,000 widows in receipt of widows' benefit for whom an allowance for rent and rates was added to the appropriate scale rates in the assessment of their weekly assistance grants. There were also 2,000 widows living in other people's households. In assessing their grants, provision was made for a share of the rent of the house they were living in. The average amounts were 29s. 2d. and 11s. 2d. respectively.

Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many pensioners in receipt of a National Insurance retirement pension were also in receipt of a National Assistance allowance at the latest available date; and what was the average weekly payment to couples and single people, respectively.

Mrs. Thatcher

1,100,000 in December, 1963. The average weekly payments to couples and single people were 23s. 1d. and 22s. 1d. respectively. Some of the grants provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner.

Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many non-contributory old-age pensioners were in receipt of a National Assistance allowance at the latest available date; and what was the average weekly payment to couples and single persons, respectively.

Mrs. Thatcher

72,000 in December, 1963. About 4,000 of them were married and 3,000 of the wives were also non-contributory pensioners, but information about average payments to couples and single persons separately is not available. The overall average supplementary payment was 51s. 3d.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons in receipt of retirement pensions were receiving supplementary allowances from the National Assistance Board at the latest convenient date.

Mrs. Thatcher

1,100,000 in December, 1963. Some of the allowances provided for the requirements of more than one pensioner.

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