§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Health the number of blind persons in receipt of pensions under the Old Age. Pensions Act during the year ended 31st March, 1926, male and female separately; the number at the varying rates of pension paid during the year ended 31st March, 1926; the total amount Maid in pension during the same period; the number of blind persons who are in receipt of pensions who are also in receipt of poor relief during the year ended 31st March, 1926; and the total number of blind persons in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINOn the 31st arch1926, 13,663 blind persons in March, England and Wales between the ages of 50 and 70 were in receipt of old age pensions under Section 1 of the Blind Persons Act, 1920, and it is estimated that about 8,880 blind persons over the age of 70 were in receipt of old age 255W pensions under the Old Age Pensions Acts. Information is not available as to the numbers of male and female pensioners, respectively, or as to the numbers of blind persons in receipt of the several varying rates of pension payable. It is estimated, however, that 93 per cent. of all pensions are at the full rate of 10s. per week, and that the total amount of pensions payable to blind persons at the 31st March, 1926, was at the rate of £550,304 per annum. No information is available as to the number of blind persons in receipt of pensions who are also in receipt of Poor Law relief. There were 39,326 blind persons in England and 2,514 in Wales at the date of the last return received by my Department. Questions relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland should be addressed to my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Home Secretary, respectively.