§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health if he will circulate to Members 2351W a copy of the Regulations made in connection with the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, and a few examples of peculiar cases dealt with under this Act?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am arranging for copies of the Regulations to be made available in the Vote Office. It is proposed to prepare and publish a précis of the more important cases decided by the referees on appeal but in view of the continued pressure on the staff it has not yet been possible to undertake this work.
§ Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Health the number of widows who have qualified for widows' pensions, the number of children for additional allowance, the number of orphans, and the number of persons whose claims have been allowed for old age pension under the scheme that came into operation in July?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINOn the latest figures available the number of widows to whom pensions have been awarded is 152,466. The number of children included in these awards is estimated at 278,500 but the exact fifigure is not yet available. Awards have been made in 10,658 orphans' claims, which it is estimated cover, approximately, 13,800 orphans. 35,833 old age pensions have been awarded under the scheme which came into operation on 2nd July last.