Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, men and women, respectively, above the age of 65, who are in receipt of unemployment insurance benefit; and what is the estimated saving to the Unemployment Insurance Fund for the 12 months from 2nd January, 1928, following the stopping of benefit to all persons aged 65 or over?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThere are no statistics available which show the number of persons above the age of 65 who are at present in receipt of unemployment benefit. A sample inquiry made in April last indicates that at that time rather less than 34,000 men and 1,000 women aged 65 or over were making claims on which benefit was authorised. Allowing for the loss in income arising from the reduced contributions in respect of persons aged 65 or over, it is estimated, on the basis of the above numbers, that a saving to the Fund will arise amounting to approximately £1,000,000 per annum.
§ Mr. B. SMITHasked the Minister of Labour the numbers of persons over 60 and over 65, respectively, who are insured 431W under the Unemployment Insurance Acts and also the numbers of such categories who are employed in the mining industry, the shipbuilding industry and the iron and steel trades?
TABLE showing for certain industries the estimated number of persons of various ages insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in Great Britain at July, 1927. Industry. Estimated number insured aged 60 and over. 65 and over. Males. Females. Males. Females. All insured industries … … … … 669,000* 53,000* 319,000 23,000 Coal mining … … … … 78,400 Not available. 34,200 Not available. Shipbuilding … … … … 18,200 7,100 Pig iron (Blast Furnaces) … … … … 3,600 1,500 Steel melting and iron puddling furnaces, iron and steel rolling mills and forges. 15,700 6,400 These figures include unemployed insured persons as well as those in employment. *Excluding persons insured under Special Schemes as to which particulars for age groups are not available.