asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the full rate of old age pension payable on 1st January, 1947; what changes have since been made and from what date in each case.
Written Answers. - Old Age Pension Rates.
The full rate of old age pension payable on 1st January, 1947, was 10s. (ten shillings) a week. In county boroughs, boroughs, urban districts and corporate towns food vouchers, valued at about 2/6 a week, were also being issued for each pensioner and dependent child of such. Elsewhere public assistance authorities were empowered to pay supplemental allowances not exceeding 2/6 a week to pensioners in necessitous circumstances, the State reimbursing 75 per cent. of the cost.
From 4th April, 1947, a cash supplement of 2/6 a week was added to all old age pensions.
From 4th July, 1947, food vouchers were discontinued, and 2/6 a week was allowed in lieu of each voucher, making the normal cash supplement 5s. a week, in urban areas only. Pensioners with vouchers for dependent children got a further 2/6 a week for each of these, so long as dependency should continue.
From 7th January, 1949, the cash supplements and supplemental allowances schemes were abolished, and the full pension rate was increased to 17/6 a week.
From 5th October, 1951, the full rate was increased to 20s. a week. From 4th July, 1952, it became 21/6 a week; and from 29th July, 1955, 24s. a week.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the total amount paid in respect of old age pensions in each of the financial years 1947-48 to 1955-56, inclusive.
The total amount paid in respect of old age pensions in each of the financial years in question was as follows:—
|
Year |
Amount |
|
£ |
|
|
1947-48 |
4,841,386 |
|
1948-49 |
5,426,982 |
|
1949-50 |
7,077,770 |
|
1950-51 |
7,020,562 |
|
1951-52 |
7,509,428 |
|
1952-53 |
8,769,600 |
|
1953-54 |
9,258,032 |
|
1954-55 |
9,229,903 |
|
1955-56 |
10,197,328 (a) |
(a)Provisional