§ 91. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the cost during the remainder of the current year, and in a full financial year, respectively, of increasing old age pensions by two shillings per week without additional contributions.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe initial cost of an increase of 2s. in retirement pensions, assuming a proportionate increase in the pensions of wives on their husbands' insurance, would be about £26 million in a full financial year, and proportionately less for a shorter period. If corresponding increases were made in other National Insurance industrial injuries and war pension benefits the cost would be about £40 million a year. The cost of any pensions increase would, of course, grow in future years.