§ 6. Mr. Rossasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what estimate he has made of the sum that would be required to be added to the allowance payable to a married couple wholly dependent on National Assistance to restore that sum to the value it had when the present scale was introduced.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterOn the basis of the Index of Retail Prices, the sum required in December, 1961, to give the same value as the current National Assistance scale rate of 90s. for a married couple had when it came into force in April last, was 93s., plus in both cases allowance for rent and rates.
§ 16. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what increase there has been in Scotland in the number of retirement pensioners receiving supplement from the National Assistance Board since 8th April, 1961.
§ Mrs. ThatcherAbout 400.
§ Mr. Pentlandasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what increase there has been in the number of old people receiving supplementary benefit from the National Assistance Board since 31st January, 1961.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNone. Precise figures are not available for the end of January, but on 19th December, 1961, the number, including supplements to non-contributory old-age pensions, was 12,000 smaller than in December, 1960.