§ 84. Mr. McKayasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners were registered at the end of 1954; how many received tobacco tokens; the 94W weekly value of these tokens to those who receive them; and the total cost per year for all these vouchers.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThere were about 4,716,000 retirement and non-contributory old-age pensioners at the end of 1954; of these, 2,468,000 were in receipt of tobacco tokens. The weekly value of each token is 2s. 4d. The cost in 1954 was approximately £15 million.
§ 85. Mr. McKayasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of married couples who as old-age pensioners get two tobacco coupons.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI regret that this information is not available.
§ 86. Mr. McKayasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to arrange that tobacco tokens for pensioners could be used alternatively for tobacco, coal, gas, or electricity so that almost all pensioners would receive an equal advantage.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThe tobacco token scheme relieves old age pensioners from some part of the post-war increases in tobacco duty. As duty or tax is not payable on coal or gas or electricity, tobacco tokens could not be used for these commodities.