§ Mr. Prescottasked the Minister of National Insurance how many old age pensioners had their pensions reduced in 1947 consequent upon their earnings exceeding £1 per week; how many were men and how many women; and what was the total cash saving.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsDuring the year 1947, 160,000 reports of earnings in excess of 20s. a week were made by pensioners whose pensions are subject to the earnings rule. Of these 115,000 related to casual earnings and 45,000 to earnings of a more or less regular character. No record is available of the numbers of individual men and women concerned, or of the aggregate amount by which the pensions were reduced. I would point out, however, that the earnings rule is not designed to effect savings but is a necessary corollary of the retirement condition. It does not apply at all to men over age 70 and women over age 65, who receive the increased pension whether they have retired or not.