§ 11. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the total number of retirement pensioners in Cardiff; and the number in receipt of National Assistance.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI regret that the number of retirement pensioners in Cardiff is not known. The National Assistance Board informs me that on 18th December, 1956, 8,043 weekly Assistance allowances were being paid in supplementation of such pensions in the area 3W served by its offices in Cardiff, which also serve districts outside the City. Some of the grants provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner.
§ 12. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much money has been refunded by the National Assistance Board to retirement pensioners in Cardiff in lieu of charges on medical prescription forms; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe National Assistance Board regrets that this information is not available. Most of these refunds are made at the Post Office where the weekly Assistance is paid, and the account rendered to the Board does not distinguish particular localities or categories of recipients.
§ 14. Mr. Warbeyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, taking into account the change in the proportion of pensioners to the rest of the population, by what amount he estimates that retirement pensions would have to be raised in order that each single pensioner and each married couple, respectively, should receive the same fraction of the national income in 1956–57 as they were receiving in the period immediately following the introduction of the rates of 26s. and 42s., respectively, in October, 1946.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterBy 3s. 4d. and 5s. 1d. respectively. This calculation is based on the standard rate of pension, and makes no allowance for the fact that some pensions are now enjoyed at incremented rates.