§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers in Scotland of non-contributory old-age pensioners and the numbers of such pensioners in receipt of regular supplementary allowances at December, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and at September, 1954.
§ Mr. MarplesThe approximate numbers are:
Date Number of non-contributory old-age pensioners Number of regular weekly National Assistance grants to such pensioners December, 1950 43,000 8,000 December, 1951 40,000 10,000 December, 1952 38,000 14,000 December, 1953 35,000 15,000 September, 1954 32,000 15,000 Some of the assistance grants provided for the needs of more than one pensioner.
§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proportion of the average regular supplementary allowance of 12s. 11d., estimated at 4th November, 1953, as being paid to retirement pensioners and noncontributory old-age pensioners in Scotland, was estimated as allowance in respect of rent.
§ Mr. MarplesThe National Assistance Board is unable to express allowance for rent as a proportion of an average 73W assistance grant; in some cases the grant after deducting available resources is less than the amount that has been allowed in the assessment for rent.