[2] A royal commission (1893-1895) chaired by Lord Aberdare investigated the viability of old age pensions, but issued an adverse verdict for economic reasons.

[3] A second committee (1896-1898) chaired by Lord Rothschild gave an adverse verdict on setting up an old age pension.

It was enacted in 1908 and was to pay a weekly pension of 5s (7s 6d for married couples) with effect from 1 January 1909.

[5] Others excluded from receiving the new pension were those in receipt of poor relief, those being held in what were then called 'lunatic asylums', those who had served a prison sentence and been released less than ten years before, those convicted of drunkenness (at the discretion of the court), and any person who was guilty of ‘habitual failure to work’, according to ability.

[5] Forms for applicants were available from the end of September 1908 and had to be returned to the postmaster of the post office that would pay the individual's benefit.