Hansard

Pensions And Supplementary Benefit

Volume 326: debated on Tuesday 14 December 1971

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LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

asked Her Majesty's Government:What estimates can be given of the number of persons who, at the latest convenient common date,

  • (1) were in receipt of pensions under the National Insurance (Old Persons) Act 1970;
  • (2) being included in the fore-going number, had been in receipt of supplementary pensions which respectively ceased to be payable because of pension payments under that Act or were reduced because of such payments;
  • (3) although over the age of 80 did not qualify for pension under the Act.

    • THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY
    (LORD ABERDARE)

    It is estimated that on November 30, 1971, 110,000 persons were in receipt of a pension awarded under Section 1 of the National Insurance (Old persons' and widows' pensions and attendance allowance) Act 1970. Of these, 28,000 had had their supplementary benefit reduced because they were receiving the pension; it is not known how many ceased to be entitled to supplementary benefit for this reason.Figures are not available of the number of persons over 80 who did not qualify under the 1970 Act, but the great majority of them will have received a pension under the National Insurance Act 1971, which provides a pension, subject to a residence test, for everyone over 80 not already qualified.House adjourned at two minutes before nine o'clock.