Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he will state the increased cost which would be incurred if pensions at the rate of 20s. were granted to all those entitled to receive pensions under the Blind Persons Act of 1920?
§ Mr. BALDWINThere are no statistics as to the number of blind persons receiving old age pensions. The Blind Persons Act of 1920 extended the grant of pensions to such of this class as were between the ages of 50 and 70, but the resulting expenditure provides no basis for estimating the cost of increase to 20s. the pensions of all blind persons receiving pensions. It is obvious that no discrimination could be made between blind pensioners who were under and over the age of 70 respectively.