HC Deb 02 March 1939 vol 344 cc1480-1W
Sir R. Clarry

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the total number of old age pensioners, aged 70 years and over, under the Old Age Pensions Act at any recent convenient date; what proportion of this number receive relief from public assistance committees, and also similar figures with respect to pensioners under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act; and whether he will give the relative costs per annum of the above paid respectively by the Exchequer and by public assistance committees through the local authorities?

Mr. Elliot

At 31st December, 1937, 1,571,285 persons in England and Wales were in receipt of old age pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act. Of this number 1,049,207 were in receipt of over 70 pensions payable by virtue of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act.

There were also 721,558 widows and 729,580 persons between the ages of 65 and 70 in receipt of pensions at 31st December, 1937, under the Contributory Pensions Act.

Approximately 10.0 per cent. of the total number of old age pensioners and 8.3 per cent. of the number of widow pensioners were in receipt of poor relief. The returns rendered by poor law authorities do not distinguish between persons between the ages of 65 and 70 in receipt of pensions under the Contributory Pensions Act and persons over the age of 70 in receipt of pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act.

The information asked for in the last part of the question is not available.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of persons in the county of Northumberland in receipt of public assistance in supplementation of their old age pensions; and the cost to the public assistance in providing this relief for the years 1932 to 1938, respectively?

Mr. E. J. Williams

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of old age persons in Glamorgan in receipt of public assistance, and the cost for the year 1931, and each year to date?

Mr. Elliot

Following is the answer: Number of old age pensioners in receipt of poor relief on the 1st January in the under-mentioned years.

Year. Northumberland Administrative County. Glamorgan Administrative County.
1932 … 630 6,247
1933 … 726 6,850
1934 … 1,141 7,535
1935 … 1,414 7,433
1936 … 1,693 7,810
1937 … 1,860 8,724
1938 … 2,071 9,620
1939 … 2,158 9,355
Information as to the cost of the relief given is not available in my Department.