§ Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of persons who are getting their cards franked at the Employment Exchange but, through not having completed the 10 years' contributory period, have to join as voluntary contributors to the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Pensions Scheme or they will lose their claim to old age pension?
§ Mr. ElliotFigures an: not available as to the number of insured persons who on becoming unemployed have not been in insurance for 10 years and are not therefore entitled to further extension of insurance after the free period has expired. The majority of these persons will, however, be in the lower age groups and if they do not become voluntary contributors will re-enter the contributory pensions scheme on resuming employment.
§ Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of voluntary contributors to the Widows,' Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Scheme?
§ Mr. ElliotApproximately 1,350,000 persons are insured as voluntary contributors under the contributory pensions scheme, of whom 460,000 are insured under the new scheme of voluntary pensions insurance introduced by the Act of 1937.