Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Postmaster-General the number of annuitants under the Post Office Saving Fund Scheme, giving the average amount of annuity paid, and to what extent the provision of such an annuity tends to disqualify the annuitant from receiving an old age pension?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe number of annuities granted through the Post Office which were being paid on the 31st December, 1922, was 32,668, and the average amount £22 4s. ld. Many annuitants hold more than one annuity, and consequently the number of annuitants cannot be stated without considerable clerical labour. The question of the conditions.affecting the issue of an old age pension is not within my province, but the amount of an annuity must, of course, be taken into consideration in the calculation of means.