§ Mr. GEORGE THORNEasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state up to the 1st January, 1918, the number of paupers (men and women separately) over seventy years of age in the United Kingdom, indoor and outdoor, with the average cost of the indoor and the average cost of the outdoor pauper; the number of claims for old age pensions received; the number rejected by pensions committees or on appeal by the Local Government Board on account of age; poor 931W relief; means; other causes; the number of pensions in force on the 1st January, 1918, with the varying rates; the number of pensioners whose deaths have been notified to the pension officers since 31st March, 1918; how many pensioners have since the War given up their pensions and gone into the workhouse; and how many pensions have been revoked on account of means since 1912, giving each year separately?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe number of paupers over seventy years of age in England, Wales, and Scotland were as follows:
Men. Women. Total (1) In England and Wales as at the 29th December, 1917— (a) In receipt of relief in institutions … … … 21,477 17,652 39,129 (b) In receipt of outdoor relief … … … … 3,063 4,561 7,624 Total … 46,753 (2) In Scotland as at 15th January, 1918— (a) In receipt of outdoor relief … … … … 634 1,954 2,588 (b) In receipt of relief in poorhouses … … … 1,033 859 1,892 Total … 4,480 I have not been able to obtain similar statistics in regard to Ireland. No figures are available as to the cost of maintenance of these persons.
As regards the second, third, fourth, and fifth parts of the question the position is that old age pension statistics are made up to the 31st March in each year. On the 19th June last I furnished the hon. Member with the figures for the year ended the 31st March, 1918, and the figures for the year ending the 31st March, 1919, have not yet been prepared.
As regards the sixth part of the question there are no particulars available as to the number of old age pensioners who have since the War given up their pensions and gone into the workhouse.
As regards the last portion of the question, I explained to the hon. Member in June last that the only figures available are the combined figures of claims rejected and pensions revoked. These figures are given year by year in the annual reports of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs and Excise to which I may refer the hon. Member.
The number rejected and revoked on the ground of means since 1912 are as follows:
Year ended 31st March, 1913 11,995 Year ended 31st March, 1914 11,044 Year ended 31st March, 1915 11,646 Year ended 31st March, 1916 13,298 Year ended 31st March, 1917 16,729 Year ended 31st March, 1918 22,493