§ 56. Mr. JOELasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the resentment felt by many widows who, after their husbands have contributed for 20 years or more, just lose their widows' pension rights owing to the husband not having been a contributor within the last few months of his life, whereas widows of men who died before the principal Act came into force and, who thus contributed nothing at all, have been able to obtain the pension on application?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe principal Act did not come into operation until 4th January, 1926, so that no cases can yet have arisen where the deceased husbands had contributed to the pensions scheme for 20 years. My hon. Friend will appreciate that in a contributory scheme certain minimum qualifications must be required. In the case of an employed contributor insurance is main- 1763 tained in all cases for a period of at least 18 months after cessation of employment and where the man is genuinely unemployed or incapacitated is normally continued long beyond that period.