§ Brigadier Clarkeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how much was saved to the Treasury by the postponement of the increased old-age pensions from December to the end of March;
(2) how much was saved to the Treasury by postponing the increased pension for disabled Servicemen from December to the end of March.
§ Miss HerbisonHad it been possible to pay the new rates of retirement pension from the end of December, the extra pension cost to the National Insurance Fund would have been about £43 million; the cost to the Exchequer would have depended on how far the contribution increases were brought forward, Payment of the new war pension rates, including those for widows, from the end of December would have cost the Exchequer an extra £3¾ million. These estimates take no account of any consequential effect on National Assistance expenditure.