§ 60. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the numbers of persons in receipt of old age pensions in each of the years from 1951; and, taking the year as being equal to 100. what has been the annual percentage increase in their old age pensions.
§ Mrs. ThatcherYes. The following are the figures:
Number of retirement and contributory old age pensioners at 31st December Expenditure pensions year which that on those financial included date 000 £m. Expressed as an index 1951 4,146 275 100 1952 4,184 316 115 1953 4,309 334 121 1954 4,435 348 127 1955 4,548 433 157 1956 4,644 448 163 1957 4,755 482 175 1958 5,320 617 224 1959 5,447 657 239 1960 5,563 677 246 1961 5,660* 787* 286* * Provisional estimate.