§ 98. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what were the total benefits paid from the National Insurance Fund in 1958, giving separate figures for pensions, unemployment, sickness, and widows', respectively; on what figure of income in Table 2 of Command Paper No. 712 is that calculated; how many beneficiaries there were; and what were the costs of administration.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe reply contains a large number of figures, as shown in the appended table.
The figures are as follows
— Amounts paid in benefit from the National Insurance Fund in 1958 Average number of beneficiaries £million Thousands Retirement pensions 600 5,000 Widows' and guardians' Benefits 53 490 Unemployment benefit 44 290 Sickness benefit 125 900 Other benefits 23 — Total 845 Administration Cost 34 The figures are, of course, not calculated by reference to figures of income and the hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension in his reference to Table 2 of Cmnd. 712.