HC Deb 16 April 1970 vol 799 cc279-80W
Mr. Hobden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total number of persons in receipt of the State retirement pension without supplementary benefits and the number of pensioners in receipt of both retirement pension and supplementary benefits, at the latest convenient date.

Mr. Ennals

At the end of 1969 about 5.2 million and 2 million respectively; the latter includes about one-third of a million wives receiving retirement pension whose requirements are taken into account in assessing their husband's supplementary pension.