§ 36. Mr. MANDERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will be prepared to introduce legislation to make the pension of the wife of an insured man who retires at 311 the age of 65 available to her then, regardless of her age, so that a total sum of not less than 20s. per week is at the disposal of husband and wife?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINSimilar proposals have been made before, but it has not hitherto been found possible to consider them on account of the heavy cost involved.
§ Mr. MANDERWhat would be the cost of remedying this small but keenly-felt grievance?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI cannot say exactly what would be the cost of the proposal, in the form in which the hon. Member has put it in his question. A somewhat similar proposal with a limitation of the age at which a wife might become eligible for that pension was estimated at between £6,000,000 and £7,000,000 a year.
§ Mr. G. GRIFFITHSWould it be possible for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to float a loan for this purpose?