Old-Age and Retirement Pensions (Hansard, 15 December 1953)

§ Mr. Gaitskell
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons are receiving non-contributory pensions; and how many of them are married couples, single men and single women, respectively.

§ Mr. Peake
In October, 1953, about 348,000 persons were receiving non-contributory old age pensions. The details asked for are not available but it is known that the total consists of 103,000 men, 212,000 single women or widows and 33,000 married women, whose husbands may or may not be receiving non-contributory pensions.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will give an estimate of the number of men over 65 and women over 60 years of age who are not at present qualified for retirement pension and not in receipt of a non-contributory pension; and how many of these men and women are receiving National Assistance.

§ Mr. Peake
There are about 22 million men over 65 and women over 60 who are not in receipt of either retirement pension or non-contributory old age pension: of these about 100,000 are receiving National Assistance.
About 1.1 million of them can expect to qualify for retirement pensions later on.

§ Mr. Gaitskell
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how many widows, not being persons insured in their own right, are drawing retirement pensions; and how many of them are between 60 and 65 years of age and how many are over 65 years old, respectively;
(2) the total number of women insured in their own right and qualified to draw retirement pensions; how many between 60 and 65 years of age are still at work and therefore not drawing pension; how many between 60 and 65 years of age have already retired; how many over 65 years of age are still working; how 45W many have retired; and how many are married, widows or single persons, respectively;
(3) the total number of men qualified to draw retirement pensions; how many between 65 and 70 years of age are still at work and therefore not drawing pension; how many between 65 and 70 years

— Drawing Retirement Pension Entitled to draw pension when they retire

Age 60–64 Age 65–69 Age 70 or over Total Age 60–64 Age 65–69 Age 70 or over Total

Men (1) — 420 1,005 1,425 — 300 — 300

Women on own insurance (1) (4) 340 600 940 95 — — 95

Wives on husbands' insurance (2) (3) 140 595 735 155 155

Widows on husbands' insurance 160 1,015 1,175 — — — —

Total 4,275 550

4,825

NOTES:

1. Men aged 70 and women aged 65 are deemed to have retired whether or not they are working. No information is therefore available as to the number of those still at work.

2. The figure of 735,000, representing wives of retirement pensioners who are drawing retirement pensions by virtue of their husband's insurance, cannot be divided according to the age of the husbands.

3. The figures do not show that an increase of retirement pension is paid in respect of their wives aged under 60, to some 35,000 men aged 65 to 69 and to some 25,000 aged 70 or over.

4. Information is not available about the marital status of women insured in their own right and qualified to draw retirement pension.

—	Drawing Retirement Pension	Entitled to draw pension when they retire
Age 60–64	Age 65–69	Age 70 or over	Total	Age 60–64	Age 65–69	Age 70 or over	Total
Men (1)	—	420	1,005	1,425	—	300	—	300
Women on own insurance (1) (4)	340	600	940	95	—	—	95
Wives on husbands' insurance (2) (3)	140	595	735	155	155
Widows on husbands' insurance	160	1,015	1,175	—	—	—	—
Total				4,275				550
				4,825
NOTES:
1. Men aged 70 and women aged 65 are deemed to have retired whether or not they are working. No information is therefore available as to the number of those still at work.
2. The figure of 735,000, representing wives of retirement pensioners who are drawing retirement pensions by virtue of their husband's insurance, cannot be divided according to the age of the husbands.
3. The figures do not show that an increase of retirement pension is paid in respect of their wives aged under 60, to some 35,000 men aged 65 to 69 and to some 25,000 aged 70 or over.
4. Information is not available about the marital status of women insured in their own right and qualified to draw retirement pension.