HC Deb 17 November 1953 vol 520 cc151-2W
Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing the number of old-age pensioners who were in receipt of National Assistance benefit on a given date in October, for each of the years from 1945–53, in the boroughs of Holborn and St. Pancras; and similar details for the parliamentary division of Holborn and St. Pancras, South;

(2) if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing the numbers in Holborn and St. Pancras, for a given date in October for each of the years from 1945–53, who were in receipt of National Assistance benefit, stating the total amounts received; and similar details for the parliamentary division of Holborn and St. Pancras, South.

Mr. Turton

Information about the total amounts received by way of National Assistance in particular localities is not available; the other information asked for is not available for the parliamentary division, but can be given in respect of the area covered by the three Metropolitan Boroughs of Holborn, St. Pancras and Finsbury. The numbers for this area at the end of September in each year since the start of National Assistance are:

Total number of persons receiving regular weekly grant of National Assistance Number included in column (1) receiving assistance in supplementation of National Insurance retirement or non-contributory old age pensions
(1) (2)
1948 5,709 4,232
1949 6,904 4,597
1950 7,437 4,997
1951 7,714 5,280
1952 8,944 5,668
1953 8,678 5,878

Some of the grants covered the needs of a household containing more than one pensioner.