§ 52. Major O'NEILLasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have considered the question of providing State pensions for necessitous widows with children in order to enable such mothers to bring up their children themselves under conditions of home influence and control; and whether he is in a position to promise legislation on these lines?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Government are not prepared to propose legislation on the lines of my hon. and gallant Friend's question.
§ Major O'NEILLMay I ask, as this is a matter of great moment to the poorer classes of the community, whether the right hon. Gentleman cannot say that the Government will, at any rate, bear it in mind in connection with their programme of social reform?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWA great deal of attention has been given to this particular subject.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is one of the questions on which we are united?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWDoes the hon. Gentleman mean Ireland?
§ Mr. DEVLINYes.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am not surprised, as the money comes out of the British Treasury.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Irish Treasury are paying £20,000,000 more than we ought to pay?