§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider taking steps to increase old age and widows' pensions to 15s. a week?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleNo, Sir. As previously stated, the Government cannot undertake to introduce legislation to authorise the all-round increase of pensions suggested in the question.
§ Mr. H. G. Williamsasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, what is the present cost of old age and widows' pensions to persons over 65; what it is estimated to be in 15 years time; and what is the estimated population, now and in 15 years time, in the age groups 16 to 64 and 65 and over, respectively?
410W
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe present cost of old age and widows' pensions to persons over 65 is £71 millions a year. It is estimated that in 15 years time it will be about £97 millions a year. The estimated number of persons in Great Britain at the present time in the age group 16 to 64 is nearly 31¼ millions and that of persons of 65 and over is 3,900,000. On the basis of the mortality experienced in recent years and ignoring the effect of possible migration, the corresponding numbers in 15 years time are 31½ millions and 5 millions respectively. My hon. Friend will observe that whereas the adult population aged 16 to 64 inclusive shows only a small increase, the population of 65 and over will, it is estimated, have grown by more than a million persons.