§ 83. Mr. Ungoed-Thomasasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will state in detail how the new pensions scheme now in operation has affected the various classes of pensioners.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsThe total number of contributory and non-contributory old age pensioners, including widows over 60, is about 4,100,000. Of these about 3½ million have had their pensions increased while about 600,000 are continuing to receive contributory pensions at the old 13W rates because they have not retired from work.
Of the 3½ million whose pensions were increased, 1,900,000 were not previously in receipt of supplementary pensions. As regards the remainder about 900,000 are now receiving pensions higher than their previous basic and supplementary pensions combined, about 100,000 are receiving increased pensions equal to the amount of their previous basic and supplementary pensions, and about 600,000 are still receiving supplementary pensions.