Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Pensions how many wives and children, respectively, were included in the allowances made to supplement the pensions of disabled soldiers on 31st December, 1920, 31st December, 1938 and 31st December, 1946; and what was the annual 123W cost, respectively, of the wives' and children's allowances on these dates.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe information available does not enable exact figures to be given. It is, however, estimated that the approximate numbers of wives and children, in respect of whom allowances were being paid in addition to pension, and the annual cost of these allowances, at the dates stated were as follow:
— No. Wives Annual Cost. £ 31.12.1920 … 406,000 3,900,000 31.12.1938 … 125,000 1,364,000 31.12.1946 … 475,000 4,850,000 — No. Children Annual Cost. £ 31.12.1920 … 864,000 5,140,000 31.12.1938 … 1,000 6,000 31.12.1946 … 410,000 3,000,000