21 JULY 1917, Page 3

In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Boner. Law

an. nounced that the Government had decided to- give an additional allowance of • 2s. 6d a week to old-age pensioners. A grant of au additional 2s. 6d. a week was made-last September tothoseasuffering special herdehip, but the new grant applies to all pensioners whether paid at the original maximum of 5s. or at the lower rate. In this context we observe. that an official return published • this week shows an increase in cost between July,1914, and June, 1917, of about 75 pee cent, in all items ordinarily entering into working- class family expenditure.