Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in the administrative county of Durham, during the first week in March, 1942, 604 aged persons, 65 years of age 1837W and over, were subject to Poor Law relief; and will he take steps to arrange to bring them under the Old Age Pensions scheme rather than have them chargeable to the local rates?
§ Mr. E. BrownI understand that the figure given in the first part of the Question is correct, except that it applies to outdoor relief only. The scope of the Old Age Pensions scheme is one of the matters which are being considered by the interdepartmental committee on Social Insurance and Allied Services, and pending their report I am not prepared to make any statement as to the second part of the Question. As my hon. Friend will be aware, an inquiry into the present position of old age pensioners was promised by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Debate which followed the Motion by my hon. Friend the Member for Abertillery (Mr. Daggar) on the 17th instant.