§ Mr. Tileyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retirement pensions were in payment at the latest convenient date, divided between men, wives on husband's insurance, widows on husband's insurance, and women on own insurance.
§ Mr. PentlandFollowing are the estimated numbers at 30th June, 1964:
Thousands Men 2,010 Wives, on husband's insurance 1,102 Widows' on husband's insurance 1,327 Women on own insurance (a) 1,614 Total 6,053 (a) "Women on own insurance" include some who are married and some widows. Since August, 1957, all pensions to widows who lose their husbands before reaching age 60 have been awarded "on own insurance" helped, where necessary, by the late husband's contributions.
§ Mr. Joplingasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the net extra cost of raising retirement pensions to £4 10s. single, £5 single, £7 married, and £7 10s. married, respectively.
§ Mr. PentlandIn 1965–66 these rates of retirement pensions would cost respectively about £127 million and £254 million more than the rates provided under the National Insurance &c. Act, 1964. The consequential saving in payments from the National Assistance Board would be of the order of £27 million and £46 million respectively108W (assuming that national assistance scale rates remained as recently prescribed). If other national insurance and industrial injuries benefits and war pensions were to be increased similarly, the extra cost would become some £196 million and £392 million, with consequential savings of the order of £34 million and £58 million respectively.