§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will have figures compiled estimating what would be the cost of granting old age pensions at the existing age on the scale in the Motion standing in the name of the right hon. Member for Camberwell?
That, as an immediate reform, there shall be substituted for the First Schedule to the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, the following scale of means of claimant or pensioner, namely:Where the yearly means of the claimant or pensioner as calculated under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, 1911, and 1919——[Dr. Macnamara.]
Rate of pension per week. s. Do not exceed £52 10 Exceed— £52 but do not exceed £54 12s. 9 £54 12s. but do not exceed £57 4s. 8 £57 4s. but do not exceed £59 16s. 7 £59 16s. but do not exceed £62 8s. 6 £62 8s. but do not exceed £65 5 £65 but do not exceed £67 12s. 4 £67 12s. but do not exceed £70 4s. 3 £70 4s. but do not exceed £72 16s. 2 £72 16s. but do not exceed £75 8s. 1 £75 8s. but do not exceed No pension."
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe estimated population over 70 years of age in Great Britain exceeds 1,400,000 of which 860,000 are in receipt of old age pensions. There are no means of estimating closely how many of the remainder have means exceeding £52, but not exceeding £75 8s. yearly. But every 100,000 pensioners added by the proposed scale would cost the taxpayers from £2 to 2½ millions per annum.