§ 28 Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what factors he bore in mind when he last assessed the needs of old-age pensioners; and whether his assessment of the pension adequate to meet the needs of old-age pensioners included possible expenditure on butter.
§ Mr. TurtonAll relevant factors, including movements of the Interim Index of Retail Prices, were taken into consideration when the rates of retirement pension were increased in 1952; butter is one of the items in the Index.
§ Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people in the borough of Barry were in receipt of old-age pensions, and what number of them were in receipt of National Assistance supplements, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. TurtonI regret that separate figures for the borough of Barry are not available.
§ Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what number of people in the county of Glamorgan were in receipt of old-age 101W pensions, and what number of them were in receipt of National Assistance supplements at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. TurtonI regret that information about the number of retirement pensioners is not available for particular localities.
I am informed by the National Assistance Board that at 30th March, 1954, the Board's offices in Glamorgan, which cover some territory outside the county, were paying about 7,000 non-contributory pensions, of which nearly 4,000 were being supplemented by regular weekly payments of National Assistance, and that nearly 38,000 retirement pensioners were also receiving regular weekly grants of National Assistance.