HC Deb 05 July 1954 vol 529 cc137-8W
Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons are in receipt of National Assistance in the borough and rural district of Newcastle-under-Lyme; and how many of these are old-age pensioners.

Mr. Peake

At 30th March, 1954, the number of regular weekly grants of National Assistance in the area covered

not diagnosed, as suffering from the disease;

(2) how many persons resident in the borough and rural district of Newcastle-under-Lyme and believed to be suffering from pneumoconiosis have appeared before the board in each year since 1951; and how many were diagnosed, and how many not diagnosed, as suffering from the disease.

Mr. Peake

Separate figure for the areas mentioned are not available, but the following table gives details of cases under the Industrial Injuries Act dealt with by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel at Stoke-on-Trent. This panel covers Shropshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, as well as Staffordshire.

by the board's office at Newcastle-under-Lyme, which extends slightly beyond the borough and rural district, was 4,275. Of these, 357 were being paid in supplementation of non-contributory old-age pensions and 2,423 in supplementation of retirement pensions. Some of the grants covered the needs of more than one pensioner.