§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, when the practice of sending a congratulatory telegram to those reaching 100 years of age was first instituted; and what were the actual number sent for the last calendar year.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe Secretary of State for Social Services sent about 900 telegrams to retirement pensioners in 1976, and the Chairman of the Supplementary Benefit Commission sent about 200 to supplementary pensioners. The first such telegram was sent to a retirement pensioner in 1953, whilst the practice of sending them to supplementary pensioners dates from 1944.