I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £198,000 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1950, for Old Age Pensions and Pensions to Blind Persons (Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1948); for Supplements (No. 22 of 1946); and for certain Grants.
This Supplementary Estimate is rendered necessary because of the fact that we have to make provision for paying pensions to greater number of old age pensioners than was originally anticipated. The original provision in the Estimates was based upon a figure of 154,300 as an average figure throughout the year, but that number of old age pensioners increased during the year and we find that, in June last, it was necessary to provide for 155,923 old age pensioners. That number increased in September to 158,434 and by December it had jumped to 159,866. The latest statistical information available shows that the number of persons of 70 years and over is likely to increase for the next few years, and, for the financial year which commences on the 1st April next, it will be necessary to make provision for an even larger number of old age pensions than the maximum covered by the normal Estimate and by the Supplementary Estimate this year.
