§ Sir K. WOODasked the Minister of Health how many persons, if any, who receive a pension under the Blind Persons' Pension Act, 1920, are also receiving a pension under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act between 65 and 70 years of age; how many insured persons, if any, cease on the attainment of 70 years of age to receive a pension under the Blind Persons Act without being subject to the means test; and how many persons, if any, are receiving a pension both under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act and the Blind Persons Act after the application of the means test?
§ Mr. GREENWOODAs regards the first part of the question, I understand that information is not available as to the number of persons between the ages of 65 and 70 who are receiving pensions both under the Blind Persons' Pension Act, 1920, which is not administered by my Department, and under the Contributory Pensions Acts, and the information could only be obtained by an investigation of 61W the position of every person of the specified age who is in receipt of a blind person's pension. As regards the second part, when the double pension has been in payment between the ages of 65 and 70, the blind person's pension ceases to be payable in every ease on the attainment of the age of 70, and thereafter an unrestricted pension under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1924, is payable by virtue of the Contributory Pensions Acts. Information as to the number of such cessations is not available. As regards the third part of the question, the information is not available, and could only be obtained by combining the investigation referred to above with an investigation into the position of every widow under the age of 65 who is in receipt of a blind person's pension.