Social Benefits (Hansard, 11 April 1968)

§ Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is aware that since social welfare benefits were increased last October price increases have diminished their value by 2 per cent.; and by how much she estimates they will be further depreciated during the current year as a result of the various Government economic measures and devaluation.

§ Mrs. Hart
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on the 9th April by my right hon. Friend the

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF MEN AND WOMEN AGED 65 OR OVER AND IN RECEIPT OF A RETIREMENT PENSION (OR CONTRIBUTORY OLD AGE PENSION (a)) AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE ESTIMATED POPULATION

TABLE 1(i)

ENGLAND WALES SCOTLAND

Men and aged 65 Women or over (i) as a percentage of (ii) Men and aged 65 Women or over (iv) as a percentage of (v) Men and aged 65 Women or over (vii) as a percentage of (viii)

End of Year In receipt of R.P. or C.O.A.P. In population In receipt of R.P. or C.O.A.P. In population In receipt of R.P. or C.O.A.P. In population

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix)

000's 000's per cent. 000's 000's Per cent. 000's 000's Per cent.

1960 … 4,193 5,213 80.4 249 309 80.7 426 545 78.2

1961 … 4,313 5,253 82.1 257 309 83.5- 438 547 800

1962 … 4,436 5,309 83.6 266 317 83.8 453 553 81.9

1963 … 4,573 5,357 85.4 269 326 82.6 464 562 82.6

1964 … 4,718 5,441 86.7 281 331 84.8 472 571 82.5 +

1965 … 4,876 5,536 88.1 285 339 83.9 489 581 84.2

1966 … 5,019 5,580 89.9 295 342 86.3 504 585 86.2

(a) A contributory old age pension (normally 30s. a week) is payable as a residual right to a widow aged 60 or over whose husband satisfied the conditions for widow's pension under the repealed Contributory Pensions Acts. At the end of 1966 there were about 24,000 such C.O.A.P.s in payment, approximately 15,500 to women aged 65 or more.

332W
Chief Secretary to the Treasury.—[Vol. 762, c. 227.]

§ Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Minister of Social Security how many persons are receiving social benefits of £11 per week, £12 per week, and how many are in receipt of less than these amounts for the latest convenient stated period.

§ Mrs. Hart
I regret the information on which an answer to my hon. Friend's Question could be based is not available.

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF MEN AND WOMEN AGED 65 OR OVER AND IN RECEIPT OF A RETIREMENT PENSION (OR CONTRIBUTORY OLD AGE PENSION (a)) AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE ESTIMATED POPULATION
TABLE 1(i)
	ENGLAND	WALES	SCOTLAND
	Men and aged 65 Women or over	(i) as a percentage of (ii)	Men and aged 65 Women or over	(iv) as a percentage of (v)	Men and aged 65 Women or over	(vii) as a percentage of (viii)
End of Year	In receipt of R.P. or C.O.A.P.	In population		In receipt of R.P. or C.O.A.P.	In population		In receipt of R.P. or C.O.A.P.	In population
	(i)	(ii)	(iii)	(iv)	(v)	(vi)	(vii)	(viii)	(ix)
	000's	000's	per cent.	000's	000's	Per cent.	000's	000's	Per cent.
1960	…	4,193	5,213	80.4	249	309	80.7	426	545	78.2
1961	…	4,313	5,253	82.1	257	309	83.5-	438	547	800
1962	…	4,436	5,309	83.6	266	317	83.8	453	553	81.9
1963	…	4,573	5,357	85.4	269	326	82.6	464	562	82.6
1964	…	4,718	5,441	86.7	281	331	84.8	472	571	82.5 +
1965	…	4,876	5,536	88.1	285	339	83.9	489	581	84.2
1966	…	5,019	5,580	89.9	295	342	86.3	504	585	86.2
(a) A contributory old age pension (normally 30s. a week) is payable as a residual right to a widow aged 60 or over whose husband satisfied the conditions for widow's pension under the repealed Contributory Pensions Acts. At the end of 1966 there were about 24,000 such C.O.A.P.s in payment, approximately 15,500 to women aged 65 or more.