HC Deb 24 January 1929 vol 224 cc354-5W
Sir J. POWER

asked the Minister of Health the total number of pensions under the Act of 1925 which were being paid at the end of 1928?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

As regards England and Wales, the total number of persons in receipt of pensions or allowances under or by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, on 31st December, 1928, was 1,218,689, comprising the following classes:

Widows in receipt of widows'Pensions 207,351
Children for whom additional allowances were being paid as part of widows' pensions 223,311
Orphans for whom orphans' pensions were being paid 12,792
Persons between 65 and 70 in receipt of old age pensions 475,808
Persons over 70 in receipt of old age pensions 299,427

Mr. MALONE

asked the Minister of Health the total combined contribution of the State, employers and insured persons to the cost of the widows', orphans' and old age contributory pension scheme from its commencement up to 31st December, 1928, and the total disbursements for the same period; and what was the estimate of the Government actuary for the same period?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The total combined contribution of employers and insured persons to the cost of the widows', orphans' and old age contributory pensions scheme from the commencement up to 31st December, 1928, and the total disbursements for the same period were £59,443,000 and £34,381,000 respectively in England and Wales. The State contribution to the Treasury Pensions Account for the whole of Great Britain under Section 11 (3) of the Act is £4,000,000 per annum, commencing with the financial year ended 31st March, 1927. The excess of contributions over disbursements accumulated in the initial period will be used in accordance with the financial provisions of the scheme in meeting payments falling due in later periods. Estimates of income and expenditure for financial years for the whole of Great Britain are given in the Report of the Government Actuary on the financial provisions of the Bill (Cmd. 2406). No separate estimate has been made for the period specified in the question.