§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons in receipt of old-age pensions at the latest convenient date also received National Assistance allowances; how much money is involved; and the average weekly payment to each pensioner.
§ Mr. MarplesAt 28th September, 1954, about 1,140,000 regular weekly National Assistance grants, some covering the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner, were being paid to retirement and non-contributory old-age pensioners. On the basis of an average payment of 14s. 11d. a week obtained from a sample examination late in 1953, it is estimated that the annual cost of the supplementary Assistance grants was about £44 million.