National Assistance Payments 40. Mr. Blenkinsop asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many payments of National Assistance are being made at the latest available date, showing separately the numbers of payments in supplementation of retirement, sickness, unemployment and widows' benefits and the numbers of noncontributory old age pensions. Mr. Peake As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Mr. Blenkinsop Would the Minister at least give me the figure for the total number of payments? Mr. Peake 1,764,000. Following is the answer:------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |A. Total number of regular weekly Assistance grants in payment* | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Assistance paid in supplementation of insurance benefits || ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1. Retirement pensions | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2. Sickness benefit | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |3. Widow's benefit | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |4. Unemployment benefit | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |B. Total number of non-contributory old-age pensions | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Assistance paid in supplementation of non-contributory old-age pensions| ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: * Assistance grants may cover the needs of more than one person.