§ Mr, Gledhillasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the estimated cost of increasing the old age pension for male contributors from 10s. to 15s. per week at 65 years of age?
§ Captain CrookshankThe additional cost of increasing the pension from 10s. to 15s. a week in the case of men aged 65 –70 in receipt of contributory pensions and male contributory pensioners over age 70 is estimated to be about £15,000,000 a year at the present time, rising to about £18,000,000 a year in 10 years' time. I should observe that the above figures do not include men receiving pensions at the age of 70 on a non-contributory basis.