§ Mr. Paul Deanasked the Lord President of the Council how many former hon. Members are not eligible for a parliamentary pension; how many former Members and widows are receiving grants from the House of Commons Members' Fund; and what is the annual cost of such grants.
§ Mr. FootThe number of former hon. Members who served in the House from 1954 and who are not eligible for a parliamentary pension is 272.
This excludes 28 former hon. Members who served in the House prior to 1954
378Wcontract for 1 million tonnes a year of steam coal which runs until the early 1980s and the British Steel Corporation has a number of contracts for the import of coking coal. My right hon. Friend and I are pressing for an increase of coal usage from United Kingdom sources.
and who are now Members of another place. No other details of Members who retired prior to 1954 are readily available.
As at 23rd June 1978 there are 21 former hon. Members and 30 widows of former hon. Members in receipt of grants from the House of Commons Members' Fund. The total annual cost of such grants is £23,000 and £20,000 respectively.
§ Mr. Paul Deanasked the Lord President of the Council how many former hon. Members or widows, not eligible for a parliamentary pension, are aged 80 years or more.
§ Mr. FootNo detailed record is kept but it is estimated that of the hon. Members who served in the House of Commons between 1954 and 1964 and who have not since been returned, at least 31 are aged 80 years or more. There is no record of former hon. Members' widows.