HC Deb 03 June 1937 vol 324 cc1164-5
44. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the estimated cost of continuing the widows' pension to those who now lose their pension on their youngest child leaving school or attaining the age of 16 years; and whether, in view of the hardship caused in these cases, he will take steps to remove this anomaly in the existing Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The cost of continuing non-contributory pensions in the case of widows whose pensions cease when their youngest child reaches the limiting age would be a maximum of £160,000 a year reached in some three years' time if the proposal were restricted to pensions now in issue; and would be about £1,000,000 a year if pensions which have ceased to be payable were revived. The Government are not prepared to modify the terms already accorded to the widows of men who died or had attained the age of 70 before the contributory scheme was introduced.

Mr. Griffiths

Does not the right hon. and gallant Member think the cost of this trivial compared with the amounts we are constantly spending in other directions, and that we are justified in asking that the Government should give immediate attention to this matter?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

This is a matter which could not stand alone.

Mr. Gallacher

Is not this a much more deserving subject that Ministers' salaries?