§ 22. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Health the total number of applications for widows' pensions in Great Britain under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, together with the number of claims rejected?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe total number of applications for widows' pensions in England and Wales received up to 7th March, 1929, was 350,400, of which 62,416 were rejected. Of this number of rejections 44,773 had reference to applications for non-contributory pensions, i.e., applications from widows whose husbands died before the commencement of the Act. As regards the position in Scotland, a question should be addressed to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ 23. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Health how many widows in Great Britain have qualified for pensions under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act by reason of having children under the age of 14; and how many widows have lost their claim to entitlement by reason of their youngest child having attained the age of 14½ years?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 19th February, 1929, to a question by the hon. Member for Battersea South on this subject.
§ 30. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Health if he can give any estimate of the extra cost to the State of granting an old age pension at 65 to the wives of insured men who were over 70 years of age on the 2nd January, 1928?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt was estimated that on 2nd January, 1928, the 1261 number of wives between the ages of 65 and 70 of men who were over 70 on that date was 45,000. It is estimated that the cost of providing pensions for these 45,000 wives while between the ages of 65 and 70 would have been approximately £1,000,000 in the first year.
§ Mr. TAYLORCan the right hon. Gentleman give the total cost to the State, over a period, of the lives of these persons?
§ Mr. TAYLORWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the promotion of a short Bill to remedy this injustice before the Session ends?