§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will state the approximate number of supplementary pensioners in the Hull area, the approximate number who have been granted the additional winter weekly 198W coal allowance, and how much fuel this allowance is intended to purchase.
§ Mr. PentlandIn the area served by the National Assistance Board's offices in Hull there were at 28th September last 13,076 pensioners (including noncontributory old age pensioners) receiving supplementary assistance. In addition National Assistance allowances were being paid to 1,101 persons over pensionable age but not in receipt of national insurance or non-contributory old age pensions. Some of the allowances provided for the needs of more than one person (generally married couples). The number in the Hull area receiving a special addition for extra fuel in winter is not known. This special provision, which is of course in addition to the amount included in the basic scale rate for normal fuel requirements, is generally an amount sufficient to cover the cost of a half hundred-weight of medium quality coal.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will state the approximate number of retirement pensioners in the Hull area who have been granted the additional winter weekly coal allowance because of sickness, or serious dampness of house, or other reasons, respectively.
§ Mr. PentlandI regret this information is not available.