§ Mr. D. Priceasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to give an estimate of the annual cost of extending the full benefits of National Insurance retirement pensions to all women over 60 and to all men over 65, irrespective of their current eligibility or of their previous contributions.
§ Miss PittThe annual cost of retirement pensions would be increased immediately from £450 million to about £750 million; in twenty-five years' time it is estimated the annual cost would be increased from £800 million to £1,000 million.
§ Mr. D. Priceasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to give an estimate of the annual cost of raising 219W the level of all National Insurance retirement pensions to a minimum rate of £4 a week for a single person.
§ Miss PittThe annual cost of retirement pensions would be increased immediately from £450 million to nearly £890 million; in twenty-five years' time the annual cost would be increased from £800 million to £1,550 million.
1. FULL-TIME STUDENTS ENTERING UNIVERSITIES FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR FIRST DEGREES OR FIRST DIPLOMAS October, 1954 October, 1955 Number Increase (+) or Decrease (-) Percentage Arts … … 10,209 10,813 +604 +5.9 Pure science … … 4,821 5,289 +468 +9.7 Medicine … … 2,609 2,700 +91 +3.5 Dentistry … … 504 652 +148 +29.4 Technology … … 3,200 3,374 +174 +5.4 Agriculture and forestry … … 530 540 +10 +1.9 Veterinary science … … 235 229 -6 -2.5 Total … … 22,108 23,597 +1,489 +6.7
2. TOTAL NUMBERS OF FULL-TIME UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN — October, 1954 October, 1955 Number Increase Percentage Arts … … 34,414 35,912 1,498 4.4 Pure science … … 16,840 17,765 925 5.5 Medicine … … 13,408 13,465 57 0.4 Dentistry … … 2,561 2,640 79 3.1 Technology … … 10,485 11,248 763 7.3 Agriculture and forestry … … 1,900 1,918 18 0.9 Veterinary science … … 1,092 1,130 38 3.5 Total … … 80,700 84,078 3,378 4.2