asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what ratio the current earnings limit for pensioners and widows bears to average earnings; and what that ratio was when the present limit was fixed.

For men, 22·8 per cent. and 24·8 per cent., respectively for women, 45·3 per cent. and 48·3 per cent. in the case of retirement and widow pensioners, and 64·7 per cent. and 69·0 per cent. for widowed mothers.