§ Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proportion of the total number of pensioners drawing supplementary payments from the National Assistance Board are over 75 and over 80 years of age, respectively; and what would be the cost of putting up the pension at 75 years by 10s. a week and at 80 years by a further 10s.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe National Assistance Board estimates that, of the retirement pensioners drawing weekly National Assistance grants, about 45 per cent. are aged 75 or over and about 20 per cent. are 80 or over.
The cost to the National Insurance Fund of putting up the standard rate of retirement pension at 75 years by 10s. a week and at 80 years by a further 10s. would be about £55 million a year, increasing to about £100 million a year in twenty years' time.