§ Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of voluntary contributors for the national health and pensions insurance schemes, both men and women, respectively, as at the last convenient date; and the estimated number of women who became voluntary contributors since the commencement of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?
Mr. W. ADAMSONThe approximate number of voluntary contributors in Scotland as at 31st December, 1929, was 21,000, comprising 18,000 men and 3,000 women. All those persons exercised the right conferred upon them by Section 13 of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, to enter or continue in voluntary insurance. Statistics are not available as to the number of women who became voluntary contributors for the first time under the Act of 1925, but it is understood that the numbers are very small.