HC Deb 19 March 1929 vol 226 cc1604-5
44. Mr. KELLY (for Mr. WHITELEY)

asked the Minister of Health the number of widows in receipt of pensions whose widowhood commenced before 4th January, 1926?

Major Sir GEORGE HENNESSY (Treasurer of the Household)

I have been asked to reply. On 31st December, 1928, the latest date for which particulars are available, 70,920 widows in England and Wales whose widowhood commenced before 4th January, 1926, were in receipt of widows' pensions under the contributory Pensions Act, 1925.

51. Mr. KELLY (for Mr. WHITELEY)

asked the Minister of Health the number of children and orphans, respectively, in respect of whom allowances are paid and whose qualifications were previous to 4th January, 1926?

Sir G. HENNESSY

On 31st December, 1928, the latest date for which particulars are available, 128,146 children and 8,986 orphans, whose title was de- rived from insured persons who died before 4th January, 1926, were in receipt of allowances and orphans' pensions respectively. These figures relate to England and Wales.

52. Mr. KELLY (for Mr. WHITELEY)

asked the Minister of Health the number of applications for widows', children's, and orphans' pensions disallowed since the commencement of the Act, giving the principal reasons for disallowment?

Sir G. HENNESSY

The following particulars relate to England and Wales. Up to 7th March, 1929, 62,416 applications for widows' pensions, of which 44,773 related to widows whose husbands died before the commencement of the Act, and 3,441 applications for orphans' pensions, were rejected. Children's allowances form part of widows' pensions and no record has been kept of the number of children included in the rejected applications for widows' pensions. The main reasons for rejection were, as regards widows whose husbands died before the commencement of the Act (1) that there was no child under 14 years of age and (2) that the husband did not belong to the insurable class and, as regards widows whose husbands died after the commencement of the Act, (1) that the husband was not an insured person at the date of his death and (2) that the required number of contributions had not been paid by or in respect of him; as regards orphans, in addition to rejections owing to failure to satisfy the contribution tests, applications failed because in the case of claims based on the father's insurance, he was not a married man or a widower, and in the case of claims based on the mother's insurance, she was not a widow.

Mr. KELLY

I appreciate the answer which has been given, but, in view of the many cases of disallowance, will the hon. and gallant Member consider keeping a record of the reasons for such disallowances, so that we may know what has justified the Department in refusing a pension?

Sir G. HENNESSY

The observations of the hon. Member will, no doubt, be brought to the notice of the Minister.